Villanueva University pays tribute to journalist Juan Pablo Colmenarejo
On the occasion of Radio Day, Villanueva University has organised a tribute to the journalist Juan Pablo Colmenarejo, who died in February last year at the age of 54 after suffering a stroke. The event was attended by the rector, José María Ortiz Ibarz, and several of the journalist's friends, such as Fernando Lázaro, Fernando Rayón and Javier Redondo, who took part in a round table discussion. During the event, a video was also shown and, afterwards, a plaque with the journalist's name was placed in the radio studios, where he gave classes until his death.
In addition to this tribute, on 23 February, the date of his death, an academic event will be held which will include two round tables with the participation of Pedro García Cuartango, Pilar Velasco, José María Irujo, Narciso Michavila, Lorenzo Silva, Elisa de la Nuez, among others.
Colmenarejo has a long career in radio, having worked for COPE, Onda Cero and Onda Madrid, where he presented the programme Buenos días Madrid. The journalist combined his radio work with his work as a radio lecturer at Villanueva University.
Since Colmenarejo's death, the Madrid academic centre has committed itself to honouring the memory of the journalist and his work, which stands out for its moderation and rigorous reporting in the face of polarisation and partisanship. With this aim, and also to keep his legacy alive, Villanueva University will name its radio studios after Juan Pablo Colmenarejo. Along these lines, the Bachelor's Degree in Journalism will promote an initiative for reflection and conversation about the profession between academics and professionals aimed at training future journalists.
"Juan Pablo Colmenarejo was a professor at Villanueva University for just over 5 months. Enough time to leave a deep impression on both the students and the rest of the faculty and staff of the university. We believe that his way of understanding, practising and teaching journalism constitutes a legacy that requires us to make an effort to pass it on to the next generations", the university said on the day of the tribute to the journalist.
