Belén Cebrián, new director of the UAM-EL PAÍS School of Journalism

The journalist Belén Cebrián has been named director of the UAM-EL PAÍS School of Journalism, replacing Joaquin Estefania, who will maintain his ties to the institution as a consultant on new projects. Established 28 years ago, the institution is a pioneer in training in quality journalism.Over a thousand students have now studied its Masters in Journalism, granted by the Autonomous University of Madrid, and which is organized in collaboration with the Grupo PRISA (publisher of El País).

Belén Cebrián joined the School of Journalism in 1995 as a lecturer in reporting. In 2006 she was appointed deputy director. Born in Madrid in 1955, she has a degree in Information Sciences - with a major in Journalism - from the Complutense University of Madrid. She began her career at the newspaper Ya and later joined the first news desk of the business and finance newspaper Cinco Días, where she specialized on trade union and employment news. In 1985 she joined  El País, where she was head of the business section.

The new director of the School of Journalism notes that the creation of the Masters "was a pioneering project of the UAM and EL PAÍS, linking academia and enterprise." She stresses the importance of the Master’s methodology: learning by doing. "It is a method," she says, “ that is both practical and personalized. It is linked to EL PAÍS and the teachers are working journalists. "

In addition to its regular academic activity, the School last month launched specialized journalism workshops aimed at all those interested in this profession in its many facets. Its next initiative will be the development of online projects.