INTERVIEW with Chema García Langa, journalist, director and presenter of the program “El gallo que no cesa” on Radio Nacional de España.
-Chema, in what way have the Internet and social networks changed the way we practice journalism?
In my opinion, both phenomena have greatly influenced the daily practice of journalism. From the outset, they have allowed us to get to the news faster and, therefore, spread it sooner than the tools available two or more decades ago allowed. What is a priori a positive aspect is not so positive when it comes to the frenetic pace in which the news event has been immersed.
Social networks and the Internet equal immediacy. Hence, the current story has become dizzying and sometimes lacks absolute verification. Fortunately, in recent years, journalists have learned to deal with misinformation and fake news… separating the wheat from the chaff and insisting on that journalistic maxim of truthfulness and consulting sources. Likewise, many media outlets have specific departments to resolve this matter. Here at RTVE we have the Verifica team, who do a wonderful job.
-Do you think they make the journalists' work easier or that they invite them to accommodate themselves?
In my opinion they offer us a global perspective of everything. They are a kind of stethoscope of current events and social trends. I am one of those who think that neither the Internet nor the networks have made us accommodate ourselves, but quite the opposite. They provide an incentive to continue trying to answer the classic questions of journalism: what, how, why, etc. For example, if a politician posts a message on a network like
In another order of things – and in line with the question of “ease” to which you alluded in your question – social networks have allowed us to interconnect more easily with each other. It is very common for journalists to try to contact people involved in news events through these networks. And we almost always achieve our goal.
-Disinformation, fake news, hate… how can we fight against them?
Based on work and support from departments such as the aforementioned: Verify RTVE. The media have a great responsibility when it comes to stopping hoaxes and those dynamics of misinformation that can generate so much tension and fear in society. Our commitment to listeners, readers or viewers is measured, to a large extent, by the capacity we develop to provide reliability and certainty.
In any case, it is useless to object that the average citizen is increasingly accustomed to dealing with fake news that circulates on the networks. Which does not prevent us from continuing to receive alarmist fake news messages on our mobile phones. In my humble opinion, I think we are moving in the right direction regarding the management of this type of hoaxes.
As for the “haters”, obviously there will always be people who use the anonymity of the networks to spread certain messages. As long as they are not threats or hurtful comments, it is best not to encourage them.
-How do you use social networks? Do they combine on a professional and personal level?
Social networks play a very important role in my professional and personal performance. In fact I use them often. Not so much to publish content but to test those trends that I alluded to previously. But, without a doubt, networks allow me to maintain direct interaction with listeners. It makes me feel very close to them and forces me to continue making an effort every day to accompany them and offer them content that is of interest to them.
Thanks to social networks, I not only know of their presence on the other side of the device from which they listen to us, but I also know their agreement or not with what we offer them. And that is a wonderful thing.
On the other hand, networks are a fabulous showcase for the world. Every radio program worth its salt must have these platforms to amplify its dissemination. It would seem that they promote the brand. And what works for the radio program also works for those of us who make it possible. Personally, networks allow me to project my daily work, my concerns and my way of seeing the world abroad.
-Which ones do you use the most and why?
The ones I use the most are X and Instagram. In X I look for informative content and echoes of current events. On the other hand, on Instagram I observe what the people I follow are doing or I entertain myself by watching the videos that the application offers me based on my tastes.
I also have a Facebook account, but I barely use it. That has to do with my personal sphere, but in regards to the program I have to say that on Facebook we have a large movement of listeners. Hence, in the end, you have daily contact with the three aforementioned networks.
-How do you keep up to date with all the news that occurs? For example, do you use Threads? Do you think it could replace X?
I don't use Threads and at the moment I have no interest in doing so. It is true that in recent months I have noticed a notable decrease in interaction through X. It is as if the flow of tweeters had transferred to networks like Instagram. It is increasingly difficult to get “likes” on the old Twitter, which leads me to think that it is losing steam among people. The same does not happen in the political, journalistic or institutional sphere, where X continues to be the favorite to publish comments.
-What role do social networks play in “El gallo que no cesa”?
They play a determining role. Not only because of the promotion component to which he alluded, but also because of the aforementioned closeness. Every day we review our contact channels and give voice to the messages that reach us. They are a kind of wall on which listeners leave us their impressions about what we do. Needless to say, we usually make continuous calls for the “roosters” and “hens” to manifest.
-How do social networks help to achieve an audience? Why is it important to measure social audience?
Because, in some way, they show the scope of what you do. In spaces like “El gallo que no cesa” it is very difficult to measure the audience. We are a morning-morning program that is only one hour long. In the EGM waves our data cannot be extrapolated with competing programs that usually total two hours of broadcast per day. If we add to that another series of conditions typical of a measurement like the one prepared by the EGM, the result is quite uncertain and perhaps far from reality. That is why networks like Instagram serve as a thermometer for us. As soon as I make an appeal on the air, our followers grow, which shows how alive the audience is at those ungodly hours.
-What feedback do you usually receive from listeners through the networks?
Numerous and daily. I usually say that ours is a two-way message. We speak for the listeners and they speak for us. These are almost always positive messages. Obviously we are more than open to constructive criticism, if not more. In fact, we tend to have a lot of influence in that regard. Another thing is that these messages derive from the paths of lack of respect or impertinence.
-Can you tell us any curious anecdotes that have happened to you online?
Many things happen to me. And from here I apologize to those who have written to me and I have not been able to respond in a timely manner. But one of the most satisfying sensations occurs when you contact a person of interest for an interview and they respond that they are a regular listener of the program. This task is usually done by the producers of the program, but when it happened to me it made me very happy because of what it entails.
