Paréntesis MEDia, an AI-focused platform run by Grupo Lavinia, held the inaugural edition of its GEN-AI Awards on 24 April in Barcelona. During the ceremony, Montserrat Rigall, a lecturer at UIC Barcelona, received the award for Best Catalan Communicator.

According to the panel of judges, comprising members of Paréntesis MEDia’s subscriber and reader community, “Her contribution has been key to sparking a much-needed conversation about the transformation of journalism.” In a recent interview with the regional outlet Empordà, Rigall stated that, “The journalism of the future will need to be more human than ever.” She added, “What sets us apart from any algorithm is our ability to understand context, show empathy and take ethical responsibility for the information we share.”

The Paréntesis MEDia Awards honoured projects and professionals who champion more human-centred, sustainable and inclusive technologies. In the Best Catalan Communicator category, the work of communicators Xantal Llavina, Mariola Dinarès and Àurea Rodríguez was also recognised.  The event featured a round-table discussion on communication and AI, attended by around a hundred professionals from fields such as film, IT, healthcare and media.

In a recent interview with UIC Barcelona, Montserrat Rigall shared two major projects she is currently involved in.  She serves as an expert in Vera.ai, a European initiative combating disinformation, and is also a member of IVERES, a project led by RTVE that aims to develop AI tools to support journalists in their work.

In her closing remarks, she encouraged everyone to “think, question and innovate without ever losing our human essence.”