Javier Fernández Arribas, new president of the International Press Club
Journalist Javier Fernández Arribas has been elected President of the International Press Club, replacing Javier Martín Domínguez. The mandate will be for the next two years. Along with the new president, the board of directors has also been renewed and is formed by: Pedro González Martín and Feng Zhang Junwei, as 1st and 2nd vice-presidents, respectively; Carmen Chamorro García, secretary general; Juan Cacicedo Piedrahita, treasurer; and Javier Martín Domínguez, Elisa Loncan Molleda, Magín González Rubio, Muriel Feiner Friedman, Abuy Nfubea, Claudia Luna Palencia and Hamid Bellahcene El Hamse, members.
The International Press Club was founded in November 1962 to enable foreign media correspondents to meet with Spanish journalists. It currently has around 200 members.
Fernández Arribas expressed his satisfaction after the appointment, as well as his commitment not only to the members, but also to the profession in defence of freedom of expression and fundamental rights. As objectives, in addition to continuing with the Club's prestigious International Journalism Awards, the new president pointed out, among others, that he will work to increase the number of members, strengthen relations between national and foreign journalists so that they can get to know our country better and project its reality, and design a series of meetings with prominent personalities and seminars on topics of journalistic and social interest that favour the development of the profession in the best possible conditions.
Javier Fernández Arribas, an expert in national political, security, defence and international news, is editor-director of the magazine Atalayar entre dos orillas, a communication platform on international current affairs focusing on Europe, Africa, the Middle East and America, which is published in Spanish, English and French. He is also director of the Espama Comunicación S.L. communications agency.
He is a contributor to the newspaper ABC, the programme Buenos días, Madrid, on Onda Madrid and a political analyst on TVE 24 horas, Diariocrítico and the VOCENTO group.
He was director of news at Punto Radio (2004-2010); deputy director of the Colpisa news agency (1998-2004); deputy director of news at Onda Cero (1992-1998); diplomatic and international correspondent at COPE (1979-1990); and at El Independiente (1990-91).
In addition to his new position as president of the CIP, he is also the Madrid delegate of the Spain-Algeria Friendship Association, a member of the steering committee of the Association of European Journalists and international vice-president.
He is also the author of the books Casco azul, soldado español and Misión Líbano, on the work of Spanish soldiers in the Balkans and Lebanon, respectively. He has also directed studies on "How to report on violence against women in relationships" and "How to report on children and violence".
Her awards include the European Salvador de Madariaga Award, the UNICEF National Communication Award, the Antenna and the Golden Microphone of the Spanish Federation of Radio and Television Associations.
