SANTA CRUZ DE TENERIFE, 25th March (EUROPA PRESS) –
Salvador García Llanos (born in Puerto de la Cruz in 1953), a member of the Federation of Press Associations of Spain (FAPE), is set to embark on his third term leading the Association of Journalists of Tenerife (APT) after being the sole candidate in the provincial journalistic union’s electoral process.
Pending the inclusion of Juan Ruiz and Ángeles Reverón, who were announced during the assembly on Monday, 18th March, Salvador García will have a team consisting of Enrique Rey Pitti as vice president, Gustavo Armas Gómez as secretary, Manuel Negrín Ruiz as treasurer, and Ezequiel Borges Fajardo, Juan Galarza Hernández, María Teresa Alfonso Delgado, and Petra Fragoso Galán as members.
The APT president expressed gratitude for the dedication and work of the outgoing directors who had chosen not to continue in the management of Tenerife journalists, for various reasons. He then presented a report summarising the achievements and challenges faced during the past three years, addressing some of the complexities within the journalistic profession, especially in relation to the current state of media organisations.
García noted an increase in withdrawals from the membership census and expressed confidence that forthcoming initiatives and actions by the APT will attract new members. These initiatives include a new agreement with Hospiten to enhance benefits, collaboration with the Free Culture association (ACL), professional communication seminars in partnership with CreacciónTV, a conference with the Adeje City Council on Artificial Intelligence (AI), and the launch of a podcast series starting with profiles of the Patricio Estévanez awards established by the APT.
Reflecting on the current media landscape in Spain from both professional and business perspectives, García highlighted that trust in the media among Spaniards is among the lowest globally.
According to Salvador García, attracting both younger and older audiences poses challenges. He stressed the importance of clear editorial lines to help consumers understand and choose media products, pointing out that certain news coverage can impact mental health and contribute to news fatigue.
The APT president called for increased associative activity and a dynamic approach in the organisation’s activities. He also announced that this upcoming term will be his last, as he will not seek re-election.
APT’s Economic and Financial Status
Furthermore, Treasurer Manuel Negrín Ruiz presented a report on the economic and financial situation of the Association. Here is a summary of his presentation:
The 2023 budget closed with a surplus of over 16,000 euros, showing increased income and expenses. The surplus was used to offset deficits accumulated since 2020, with a significant portion attributed to the Canary Islands Yearbook, covering the years 2021-2022.
Investments in technical enhancements and furniture at the APT headquarters utilised a large part of the surplus at the beginning of the year. For 2024, the budget forecasts a surplus of 10,707 euros, with an increase of 25,000 euros in income and 20,000 euros in expenses.
Key projects for the year include a complete revamp of the APT’s social media presence with its own domain.
In terms of collaborations, Negrín announced that the APT will continue its participation in the Adeje Summer University and initiate annual activities with the Adeje City Council. Additionally, plans include a new edition of the Santa Cruz debate with the sponsorship of the city’s Council. A new section on Health and Communication will also be established with the support of Hospiten.
Finally, regarding the establishment of the Professional College of Canarian Journalists, Maria Luisa Arozarena, the first vice president, provided an update on the initiative’s progress, which the APT is closely involved in. The final response from the Ministry of the Presidency, Public Administrations, Justice, and Security of the Government of the Canary Islands is awaited.
