Ràdio 4 celebrates its 50th anniversary at the UAB Faculty of Communication Sciences

On Wednesday, 21 October, the UAB Faculty of Communication Sciences became the setting for Ràdio 4’s programming as the Catalan-language station of Radio Nacional de España (RNE) celebrated its 50th anniversary. The event brought together communication professionals, university representatives and students to reflect on the station’s history, the current challenges facing the communication sector and the future of radio.

Ràdio 4, which began broadcasting in 1976, was the first generalist radio station to broadcast entirely in Catalan after the Franco dictatorship, making it a key reference point in Catalan-language broadcasting.

The day began in the Faculty’s lobby with a live broadcast of “El matí de Ràdio 4”, hosted by Xavi Freixes and Ana Córdoba. The programme looked back on the station’s fifty-year history with Sònia Urbano, director of RNE in Catalonia and of Ràdio 4, and explored the present and future of radio with Juanjo Perona, Dean of the Faculty. Their conversation addressed young people’s news consumption habits, the university’s role in training future communication professionals and the influence of social media on information consumption. They also highlighted the importance of developing a critical perspective to identify fake news and combat disinformation.

The programme featured a political current-affairs discussion with Salvador Cot, editor of Grup Món; journalist Carlos Losada; and Anna Arqué, communication consultant and spokesperson for the ICEC and Mantinc el Català. In addition, Raquel Quelart, a personal finance and economics journalist at “La Vanguardia”, discussed financial education.

UAB students also played a prominent role in the broadcast, taking part in a discussion about their concerns and experiences. Topics included difficulties accessing housing and transport, uncertainty about future employment, the challenges facing communication professions and the impact of artificial intelligence.

The morning programme also featured several live musical performances. Lo Pau de Ponts performed the song “Escalivada”, while Helga, a UAB Musicology student, presented her latest song, “Sobredosis”. Artists Albert Nieto and David Millón also took part.

At midday, the Faculty’s Aula Magna hosted a roundtable moderated by Esteve Crespo, director of RTVE Catalunya. Participants included Armand Balsebre, Professor of Audiovisual Communication and Advertising; Antoni Vidal, former director of RNE; Sònia Urbano, director of RNE in Catalonia; and Gemma Nierga, presenter of “Cafè d’idees” on 2Cat and Ràdio 4. The discussion addressed some of the main challenges facing journalism and the Catalan radio landscape, particularly the fight against disinformation and the influence of social media on journalism. In this context, Gemma Nierga stressed the responsibility of the media to avoid spreading content intended to misinform and distort public debate.

In the afternoon, the Faculty’s lobby once again hosted a live Ràdio 4 broadcast, with the magazine programme “La tarda de Ràdio 4”, hosted by Xavi Martínez. The programme again involved university students, who discussed younger generations’ news consumption habits and whether being exposed to large amounts of content necessarily means being better informed.

The broadcast included several interviews and segments. Adam Martín, a journalist and nutrition expert, analysed the composition of everyday food products, while Vanessa Hogarth presented a social affairs report. The programme also featured an interview with Markos con K and the sex advice segment hosted by Eva Moreno. In addition, Julia Sabaté presented her debut studio album, “Egoísta”. The day concluded with a performance by urban artist Poggioli, who presented “Com ho fèiem abans”.