In this time of divergences and confrontations, it is comforting to see that there are facts beyond doubtwhich raise unanimities without fissures. This unanimity is what has occurred in the granting of the first ICAB prize from the Barcelona Bar Association to EL PERIÓDICO journalist Jesús G. Albalat, dean of court journalists in Catalonia in recognition of your professional career covering judicial information.
The Barcelona Bar Association awards the first ICAB prize to the dean of court journalists in Catalonia
The Column Court of the Palauet Casades, headquarters of the Bar Association, has become too small this Monday. Dozens of jurists and journalists have attended the award ceremony that recognizes what both worlds, justice and journalism, know: that Jesús G. Albalat is “a journalism giant“, “professional and teacher“, but also “buddy“.
“The first to arrive and the last to leave”, “with passion, enthusiasm and competitiveness intact”: two of the notes that professional colleagues have put on the table in a meaningful video and that summarize what the committed exercise of journalism should be and that Albalat has been practicing for more than 40 years. First in the newspaper ‘Avui’, where he started as an intern, then in ‘Diari de Barcelona’ and ‘El País’, and for 35 years in EL PERIÓDICO, “my second, or first, home”, in the words of he.
“The ICAB award is a recognition of the work of journalists. It places us on the judicial map and recognizes the role we play”
Journalist
Always being there is what has made Albalat the best-informed journalist and the one who finds out things first. “What he says goes to mass. He is known and recognized everywhere,” summarized the dean of the College of Journalists of Catalonia, Joan Maria Morroswho appreciated that it was the lawyers and jurists themselves who wanted to reward Albalat.
This is Albalat: “giant of journalism”, “professional and teacher”, “companion”, “the one who knows everything before anyone else”
“It is part of the building,” he pointed out, for his part, Jesús M. Sánchez García, the dean of the Bar Association, whose memories of Albalat in court practically date back to “when he was wearing shorts.” “He was always there and is a symbol of the magnificent relationship between the legal profession and journalism, always knowing the role of each one.”
“I work how I want to work and with whom I want to work. And no, I am not retiring”
At the event, anecdotes were told that give an idea of that symbiosis between the journalist and the courts, that involvement with the practice of the profession: more than one court journalist has come to think, at some point, that Albalat was a judge or a prosecutor. The confusion came from two facts: Albalat’s ease in a world that he knows like the back of his hand and his willingness to always help fellow professionals.
“You find out everything and you know everythingbut you are worth more for what you keep silent”, he pointed out German Gonzalezfriend and colleague, who has highlighted another value of Albalat: “It is honest, loyal and goes ahead“, qualities that unfortunately are in regression today. Also brave: González recalled two episodes in the winner’s career: when a businessman who later fell from grace pointed a gun at him in his office. Or when his phone was illegally tapped. “Albalat has the power to scare power,” he added.
A complex sector
Albalat has been able to do excellent journalism in a sector, the judicial sector, in which it is not easy to access information. And that he uses a complex legal language, with terms only intelligible to the initiated. He has known how to ‘translate’ it to explain it to the citizen. Here he has also been a “guide and reference.”
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The veteran journalist was excited to attend this recognition of his professionalism, but also his humanity. “Grateful and happy,” he confessed after collecting the award with the simplicity that characterizes him. Grateful to his “great family”; my colleagues from the courts and those from EL PERIÓDICO, “who put up with me every day.” And also to lawyers, judges, prosecutors and officials of the Administration of Justice, “friends” to whom he has valued their work to improve the functioning of the third branch of the State.
“The award is a recognition of the work of journalists. We are placed on the judicial map and we are recognized for the role we play. We are not aliens, we are a key element to explain to society the work of justice, to denounce and to supervise,” he noted. “I work how I want to work and with whom I want to work,” she stressed before issuing a warning, in case anyone had not heard: “And no, I’m not retiring.”