The RTVE Interactive Media News Council has resigned completely. First, Santiago Riesco resigned at the end of last week. The other two members, Óscar Canencia and Alejandro Vega, the president of the council, did so this Thursday. The RTVE Interactive Media News Council consists of three members and will remain in office until replaced.
Last Friday, Riesco announced his decision to resign to his colleagues after disclosing a name he was not allowed to reveal publicly during a meeting with the newsroom. Accepting his mistake, he submitted his resignation as a member of the council a few days later.
The resignations of Canencia and Vega this Thursday come after a meeting with the editorial team of RTVE Play. In his letter of resignation, Alejandro Vega, who has been president of the Council since October, regrets what he believes is a “lack of confidence on the part of the editorial team in our functions and responsibilities,” something that, he says, “could create an atmosphere of tension and distrust “It is regrettable to see how facts are distorted and manipulated and unfounded rumors are spread with the aim of discrediting my work and undermining my professional integrity and, what is worse, the integrity of the Council itself “, he says the letter in which he expresses his concern about the direction taken by this RTVE body.
For his part, Canencia, in his letter of resignation, refers to the “final disagreement” of the committee with the editorial team of RTVE Play over the statement sent by the committee regarding the broadcast of the Goya red carpet on the public chain's website, although he assures that his decision is not something sudden, but that “it was faked over time”. “On February 8 last year, at a meeting with colleagues from RTVE Noticias, some editors expressed their distrust of the Council.” “If to this lack of trust is added the fact that our colleagues from RTVE Play are not affected by our actions “If you feel represented or think that you are excluded from the decisions, it is time to step aside,” the journalist continues.
The resignations follow the criticism expressed by this council about the broadcast of the Goya red carpet by the comedian Inés Hernand, an employee of RTVE. Hernand, microphone in hand, turned to Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez and shouted “You are an icon, President, we love you!”, to which casual comments and some swear words were added during the broadcast.
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In a statement, the two members who resigned this Thursday explained that they had delayed their departure while waiting to “listen to RTVE Play colleagues in the assembly”. “The situation is unprecedented and therefore we will contact RTVE's legal department to find out how to proceed in this case and announce the call for elections for its renewal as soon as possible.” The council will remain in office until the replacement Government office. In such circumstances, we would like to ask that we join forces and not leave the matter empty,” they said in their statement.
The shock following the Council's criticism of Inés Hernand's Goya red carpet coverage on RTVE Play was therefore the final straw. Hernand explained to EL PAÍS on the 13th that his style is “far from any informative tone or journalistic prism” and that he tries to offer “a plural vision” within RTVE, as he has done on previous occasions, for example at the recent red carpet at the Grammys. He added that he had long felt like a “scapegoat for various reasons” in internal wars and ideological battles within the group.
In his statement on RTVE Play's Goya red carpet coverage, the now-resigned council said: “As much as we want to convey a relaxed, alternative tone and be tailored to a young audience, we believe that any content that carries that. “ The RTVE brand must comply with the quality and neutrality standards contained in the RTVE Style Book and within the framework of the Information Law, in particular Articles 8 and 9, to which the company's professionals are well known and entitled.
This statement also criticized the moderator's behavior, with “burping, complaints, swear words without context…”. “It seems to us that the flattering tone towards a government president, whatever the sign, has no place on public radio and television, which is everyone's business,” they concluded. When the controversy broke out, Sánchez, for his part, sent a tweet in defense of Hernand, declaring: “Inés Hernand, you are the icon.”
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