Journalism with Soul: How to Tell Stories that Change the World. Interview with Roberto Macedonio

1. Upon receiving the Europe 2025 Prize, it became clear that journalism is the last refuge of hope. What moment in your life ignited that conviction? Was there a story or a face that marked you forever?

 My calling for journalism actually began when I was very young. During my childhood I lived in Sanlúcar de Barrameda, and there I started collaborating with the local television. It was my first contact with the media, and I never looked back... They were children’s reports, contests... I had a great time, for me it was a hobby and it ended up becoming my vocation. I've had many role models, one of them being Nieves Herrero, with whom I've had the fortune of working for years and from whom I've learned so much.

2. In your journalistic career you must have had both hard and soft moments. Has fear ever almost defeated you? How do you deal with helplessness in the face of others' pain?

 Well, we are constantly covering stories that leave a mark... I remember the first Ukrainian refugees arriving in Spain fleeing war, for example. But I believe that as journalists we have the great responsibility to give voice to these people and tell their stories. We won't change their lives, but we can raise awareness, and knowing that gives meaning to our profession.

3. In an age of misinformation, many distrust the media. How do you maintain credibility without losing sensitivity? Have you ever had to choose between 'the click' and ethics?

 Fortunately, I’ve worked with media outlets that have always given me full independence as a correspondent. The channels I've reported for, such as NTN24 where I currently work, are deeply committed to democracy. I believe it's essential for the media to remain firm in defending democratic values in the current state of the world.

4. Of all the stories you've told, which one still haunts you in silence? And which one restored your faith in humanity?

 Covering the last elections in Venezuela was deeply painful because I got very involved, immersing myself in the diaspora in Spain and finding a large number of wonderful people who are suffering greatly. Just last week I interviewed the Secretary General of the Organization of American States, Luis Almagro, following the presentation of a new report confirming crimes against humanity being committed in that country. I have many Venezuelan friends, some still there... It's a subject that haunts me in silence, as you say.

 I have never lost faith in humanity because every day I also encounter wonderful stories, anonymous heroes... Something very human and beautiful happened to me recently on a high-speed train from Seville to Madrid. There was an incident, and we spent 12 hours stuck without reaching Madrid. I was in the train and took the opportunity to record a report that aired on NTN24. We arrived in the capital at 5:30 in the morning and many people had nowhere to spend the night because they had missed their connecting trains. They organized themselves to sleep in the homes of other passengers. We saw something similar during the energy blackout. In emergencies, citizens always show their solidarity, and that is beautiful.

5. Your work stands out for its professionalism and humanity. How do you get someone to open up their life in the midst of trauma? What have you learned from those who have nothing to lose?

 Well, in general, it's not something I seek... If someone wants to tell their story, they are welcome to do so. But if a person doesn’t want to, they must be respected, especially if they are going through trauma. I believe stories are better told with the perspective of time and with healed wounds. Recently, I spoke with a homeless person who sleeps every night at the Barajas Airport, something that's currently very present in the news agenda because up to 500 families are in that situation. This individual wanted to speak out to denounce the situation he was facing. Many others preferred not to tell their story, and that’s fine too, there’s nothing wrong with that.

6. Beyond the awards, what would you like those who know you personally to say about you? What would you like them to remember about your way of seeing the world?

 I’m simply a journalist who tries to do his job well. If they say that about me, I will be satisfied.

7. What still enrages you like it did on the first day? And in contrast, what small gesture reconciles you with the profession?

 I think all journalists have a great love for the profession because it truly isn’t an easy career. However, it is so beautiful that it’s worth enduring any adversity we might face along the way.

8. Behind epic chronicles is the journalist who returns home. What habit or ritual helps you avoid carrying others' pain? And what did your family say when you needed them the most?

 In reality, it's difficult to disconnect because a journalist is, first and foremost, a curious person... and that makes you always want to know what’s happening in the world or how the stories you're covering are unfolding. That happens to me. My family has always supported and continues to support me, for example now that I’ve decided to move to Washington to take on the role of correspondent for NTN24.

9. If you had to choose: would you rather be remembered for a story that changed laws, or one that saved a single person? Why?

I think changing laws requires much more than just a story... political and even arithmetic factors come into play that are beyond journalists. If journalism can help someone, we can be proud.

10. If your career were a sound, would it be a scream, a whisper, or perhaps silence? What would we hear if we listened to your heart after your years in the profession?

  My career is the scream of those who have a story to tell, the whisper of those who give you perspective, and the silence that, in itself, is a way of communicating. In my heart, you will always hear a burst of laughter.

 Roberto Macedonio doesn’t seek headlines; he seeks souls. His journalism is an uncomfortable mirror, but also an embrace. Because, as he himself says: "The truth hurts, but indifference kills." His next challenge: to continue writing with ink made of courage.