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Josep Maria Cadena, a reference in Catalan journalism, dies at 90
The journalist, cultural critic and press historian Josep Maria Cadena i Catalán died this Wednesday, June 3, at the age of 90. The news has been confirmed by sources from the Journalists' Association of Catalonia, an entity of which he was part of its governing board.
Born in Barcelona in 1935, Cadena leaves behind a professional career marked by his commitment to freedom of expression, the defense of democratic journalism and the promotion of Catalan culture. He was one of the prominent figures in journalistic renewal during the years of the Transition and one of the drivers of the recovery of the Catalan-language press.
Among his most important contributions is his participation in the founding of the newspaper Avui . As the director who signed the legal documentation necessary for its constitution, he contributed decisively to the birth, in 1976, of the first general information newspaper published entirely in Catalan after the Civil War. He later served as its deputy editor until 1979.
Cadena was also a founding member of the Democratic Group of Journalists, a key organization in the defense of professional freedoms during the last years of Francoism and the first years of democracy. He also served on the boards of directors of the Barcelona Press Association and the College of Journalists of Catalonia.
His professional career began at the EFE Agency and the Diario de Barcelona , where he became head of the local news section. He later directed La Hoja del Lunes in its final stage. In 1984 he joined El Periódico de Catalunya as editor-in-chief of foreign relations, a responsibility he later combined with art criticism, a field in which he became a recognized voice.
A specialist in the history of the press and in Catalan humorous cartoons, Josep Maria Cadena developed an intense research and dissemination activity. Throughout his life he published more than 75 books mainly dedicated to communication, art and Catalan popular culture. He also chaired several cultural entities, including the Gin Foundation.
His contribution to journalism and Catalan culture was recognized with numerous distinctions. Among the most notable are the Creu de Sant Jordi, awarded by the Generalitat de Catalunya in 1995, and the National Culture Award, which he received in 2015.
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