Érica Roura began the “la Caixa” Journalism Fellowship in November 2025. This programme is aimed at final-year Journalism or Audiovisual Communication students and offers 18 months of training placements at the EFE Agency. The UIC Barcelona student will remain at EFE’s Catalonia Bureau until July and, from autumn 2026, will begin a nine‑month placement at one of the agency’s international bureaus.

How did you find out the news?
I found out earlier than expected. I spent the whole night refreshing the website where the selected students were due to be announced, with my whole family at home and my friends on a video call. At one point I saw the list appear with my name on it, and I couldn’t believe it. I was in shock.

What does receiving such a prestigious scholarship mean to you?
Being able to work at a news agency like EFE, the fourth largest in the world, is an extraordinary opportunity for both personal and professional growth. I will cover press conferences, conduct interviews and write news stories. I am currently in the society section, but later I will move to culture. I feel very motivated.

Did you expect day‑to‑day life at a news agency to be like this?
To be honest, I arrived without any expectations, but they have placed a great deal of trust in me from the very beginning. I felt a bit insecure at first. Everything seemed so big. But they sent me out to cover stories on the second day and that gave me a lot of confidence. You gradually learn the dynamics of a newsroom and the needs of the media. I hadn’t realised the extent to which agencies shape the work of other media outlets.

How did the Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism help prepare you for a role like this?
It is a very practical degree; from the first year we work with all journalistic formats. This helps us understand different forms of storytelling and adapt to the pace required for each type of information.

Do you think journalism is a vocation? 

For me, the vocation comes from the curiosity I have always felt about everything happening around me and in the world. To stay informed about what is going on and explain it to others.

We are living through a turbulent period globally, marked by geopolitical uncertainty and an unstable outlook. How do you approach the challenge of being a journalist today?
I believe journalism must be very clear about its role and responsibilities to society. I want to work with rigour, ethics and objectivity, avoiding polarisation and the noise that surrounds the media.

In a few months you will be heading abroad to work in an international bureau. Do you have any destinations in mind?
I would love to work in New York or London. Perhaps also Bangkok. I want to go somewhere where Spanish is not the native language and fully adapt to a new culture. My dream has always been to work abroad and start a career overseas. I still cannot quite believe it is going to happen. I have spoken to María Carcaboso, a UIC Barcelona graduate, who completed the scholarship last year in Tokyo and is now working in Bangkok. She gave me first-hand advice that I found incredibly valuable.

What would you say to a future student thinking for applying for the fellowship?
I would tell them not to hesitate and to go for it. If they feel passionate about the world of information and communication, I would always encourage them to pursue every opportunity available. With hard work, effort and perseverance, possibilities always open up.