Juan Antonio García Avilés: "Only journalists in love will save journalism."
Journalism often seems moribund. How many news stories did you see today? Better yet: how many did you actually read? Disillusionment with journalism is nothing new. And the place where it persists most is within the profession. Many journalists feel trapped on the hamster wheel: producing nonstop, in a rush, without depth. This atmosphere of discouragement was what led journalist and professor José Alberto García Avilés to ask a question: is it still possible to practice journalism in another way?
In his book Águilas y colibríes (published by Playhacks), García Avilés makes it clear: journalism isn't dead, it's just limping. The author doesn't embrace structural pessimism. On the contrary, he argues that the profession of journalist is more necessary than ever : "Citizens need the compass of journalists, especially in the face of artificial intelligence, disinformation, fake news, and polarization."
The Miguel Hernández University (UMH) professor loves metaphors. He's crazy about them. His book is full of them. For the author, successful journalists come in two types. They can be eagles or hummingbirds . It all started with a trip to Costa Rica.
- What does it really mean to be an eagle or a hummingbird in journalism? Is it necessary to be one or the other?
- Last year, on a trip, a guide taught me to observe nature in a different way. I saw animals like anteaters, iguanas, and spider monkeys. But what caught my attention most was discovering a majestic crested eagle and the wonderful hummingbirds. For me, eagle journalists are those who fly high, with a broad and clear vision of reality. On the other hand, hummingbirds represent skill, versatility, and optimism. Together, they symbolize the qualities necessary to move forward in this profession.
García Avilés's work brings together 32 interviews with European journalists who have decided to reinvent their profession from within. Some did so under extreme conditions, such as Ukrainian Daryna Shevchenko, who now leads an independent media outlet after three years of war in her country. Others, like Swiss Serge Michel, chose to change course at age 50 and founded a media outlet from scratch that would allow them to produce more thoughtful and measured journalism.
The book features two Spaniards: Mar Cabra, who leads a project for journalists' mental health, and the late Mario Tascón, a pioneer in the digital transformation of the media in Spain and a staunch defender of data journalism as a tool to strengthen democracy.
- Does truly innovative journalism exist in Spain?
- While I don't intend to generalize or criticize all professionals in the field, I believe that figures like Carlos Alsina embody an inspiring energy. We need more journalists like him: those who believe in the essence of this profession. Alsina, without a doubt, represents the type of journalism I champion.
- What innovations have you seen fail due to a lack of context or over-ambition?
- One example was El País 's attempt in the early 2000s to implement a paywall on its website. The public wasn't ready to pay for online content, and the experiment failed. Another interesting case was Politibot , a political chatbot launched in 2017. The initiative attracted thousands of users, especially during election campaigns, but the AI technology wasn't yet sufficiently developed, and the project lost traction over time. The important thing is to be aware that you have to take risks.
- Since you mention Artificial Intelligence... Is AI in journalism good or bad?
- Falling into a "for" or "against" stance seems excessive to me. This brings us to the debate about apocalyptic or integrative. I consider myself an integrative one, albeit with many reservations, because it's a bigger disruption than the internet brought more than 25 years ago. It's very easy to be seduced and controlled by the tool. If we use it well, we'll write faster, yes. But we can't let it think for us.
- For non-conformist media outlets to exist, they must have revenue. Is editorial independence a utopia?
- I'm aware that to work, you have to eat. Funding journalism is the Holy Grail. A sustainable formula is needed. As Lisa McLeod of the Financial Times says, we must diversify our income, but not overdo it: three or four avenues are enough. And no: abandoning advertising is unthinkable. Subscriptions don't offset the decline in paper or print advertising.
- Since you're talking about money, what do you think about the precariousness of the sector?
- There's no doubt that in many newsrooms, salaries are rock bottom and hours are long. I don't want to mislead anyone: it's a difficult path. Improvement must also come from the top, with managers committed to improving working conditions and creating a healthy work environment that respects mental health.
- Is mental health a taboo topic in newsrooms?
- Absolutely. Journalist Mar Cabra, with her non-profit project The Self Investigation , does commendable work and provides data on the number of journalists worldwide who struggle with anxiety, burnout , or even depression. Unfortunately, it remains a vast, silent epidemic.
- And in the face of all these difficulties, is it worth continuing to invest in journalism?
- The profession is a public service as necessary as medicine or law. It is indispensable in times of crisis, let's call them blackouts, DANA. To build a solid democracy and ensure that people know what's at stake, we need independent, fair journalism, carried out by professionals who are passionate about their vocation. Only journalists who are passionate about it will save journalism.
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