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Training workshops for local
journalists
in Salamanca and Burgos
The Asociación de Periodistas de Informa-
ción Ambiental (Association of Environmen-
tal Information Journalists, APIA Spanish
acronym) in collaboration with FCC Aqua-
lia, proposes guidelines for informing on the
environment and water management.
Representatives from the mass media in
Salamanca, members of APIA, and a group
of Communication Sciences students from
the University of Salamanca participated in
the first session of the Environmental Infor-
mation Workshop for local journalists.
The workshop was opened by Fernando
Martínez, the dean of the Communications
faculty; Elena Martín, chairwoman of Aso-
ciación Salmantina de Periodistas (ASPE);
Clara Navío, chairman of APIA; and Ángel
Capellán, manager of FCC Aqualia in Sa-
lamanca who applauded the initiative and
highlighted the company’s commitment
to training and information “to achieve the
greatest transparency” in the sector. Cape-
llán also thanked the facilities provided by
the local City Council, who owns the water
services and the facilities, which collabora-
ted with the company in the organization
and development of the workshop.
The sessions held during the morning co-
vered topics such as the contents and
supports of environmental journalism, the
relationship with information sources on en-
vironment related issues, and the method
for reporting different issues when one is
not a specialist. In this respect, Juan Pablo
Merino, head of FCC Aqualia’s Corporate
Communications and Marketing, descri-
bed the peculiarities of information in the
water sector and, what he believes, are the
main ideas that a local journalist must un-
derstand in order to provide information of
water management: water is a basic public
good which must be managed by a specia-
lised company with the maximum transpa-
rency. On the company’s relationship with
the media, Juan Pablo underscored “the
importance of mutual trust” and the need
to check information “so as not to generate
alarm on an issue as sensitive as water ma-
nagement as a public service”.
Besides the sessions, the journalists had
the opportunity of visiting the El Marín was-
tewater treatment plant and the potable
The journalists
also visited several plants
to learn about water
management in detail
Santiago Lafuente, manager of Zone I, at the opening session of the workshop with Mar González, chairwoman of the Press Association of Burgos;
Juan Antonio de Miguel, manager of Aguas de Burgos; and Clara Navío, chairwoman of APIA: