Josep Corbella: “Hemos logrado que las noticias de ciencia tengan presencia diaria en los medios”

Josep Corbella: “Hemos logrado que las noticias de ciencia tengan presencia diaria en los medios”

Josep Corbella: “We have managed to make science news have a daily presence in the media”

🎙 Fundación BBVA 👥 20K 📅 October 8, 2026 ⏱ 18 min 👁 3 📄 expert opinion 🧭 2026-10-08
Available in: English (current) Français

Keywords

science journalismscience in mediaexpertiseLa Vanguardiascience communication

Summary

In this interview, Josep Corbella, a prominent Spanish science journalist, reflects on his career and the evolution of science journalism. He explains that he entered the field at age 20 out of calculation, seeing an opportunity to enter the newsroom of the Diario de Barcelona because no one else was covering science. He soon discovered a true vocation, finding science journalism enriching because it constantly presents new knowledge and interesting people. Corbella details how he worked gradually to integrate science news into daily coverage at La Vanguardia, eventually making it the first Spanish newspaper with a dedicated science reporter for daily news. He highlights major exclusive stories, including the first clinical trial results of cancer immunotherapy (published on the front page before most other media) and the discovery of liquid water on the Moon’s south pole by Lunar Prospector, which he reported six months before it appeared in Science. He discusses the creation of the Big Bang digital channel, the need to adapt science content to online audiences, and the transversal relevance of science across all newspaper sections, from international to sports. Corbella emphasizes the primacy of the news genre over features or interviews, arguing it is the most influential. He shares his approach to writing books, comparing it to a long distance race, and outlines three functions of science communication: vulgarization, helping citizens make informed decisions, and providing a consensual language for society. He warns about the rise of anti-scientific discourse and disinformation, stressing the responsibility of science journalists to earn public trust. Finally, he views the CSIC-Fundación BBVA award as recognition of science journalism as a public service.

270 words

Critical Evaluation

Value of the Information & Strength of the Argument

The value of this interview lies in the unique perspective of a practitioner who has shaped science journalism in Spain. Corbella provides concrete examples (immunotherapy, lunar water) that illustrate how a dedicated science desk can produce significant scoops. His argument is coherent: he advocates for the news genre as the most impactful, and his reasoning is practical, based on his daily experience. However, his claims about ‘first in the world’ are not independently verified, and the interview lacks critical discussion of potential limitations or controversies in science reporting. The argumentation is solid within its own framework, but relies heavily on personal authority rather than external data.

Scientific Rigor, Source Quality, Title Accuracy

The interview respects journalistic norms of an expert testimony. Corbella mentions specific events (e.g., the immunotherapy trial, Lunar Prospector) but does not provide published references for verification. The title is accurate and matches the content. The description includes a link to the award announcement, which serves as a source for the context of the award. Overall, scientific rigor is moderate: the claims are plausible but not backed by cited literature within the video itself.

195 words

Title / Content Match

The title accurately reflects the main theme of the interview: the effort to achieve daily presence of science news in mainstream media, which Corbella discusses extensively.

Quality & Reliability

6/10

This is a personal testimony from a veteran science journalist, based on his own career experiences and anecdotes, without verifiable references to specific studies or articles. The claims about exclusive scoops are plausible but not independently confirmed within the video.

Key Moments

Cited Sources

Concurring Sources

Dissenting Sources

  • No contradictory sources identified — The video is a personal testimony; no directly contradictory claims found, but the lack of citations prevents full verification.

Contribution & Novelties

This video offers a first-hand account of the historical development of science journalism in Spain, specifically the integration of science news into daily coverage at La Vanguardia. Corbella’s insider perspective on achieving daily presence and the genesis of scoops is a unique contribution, providing practical insights into newsroom dynamics and the role of a specialist journalist. It also articulates a clear thesis about the importance of news as a genre and the social function of science communication.

Pour aller plus loin :

124 words

Radar Profile

The radar profile shows moderate scores across all dimensions, with quantity and quality of information relatively balanced, but lower technical level and reliability due to the subjective nature of the interview. This indicates a content that is informative from an expert perspective but not deeply technical or rigorously sourced.

Reliability 5/10