On Wednesday, 17 December, the Master’s Degree in Literary Journalism, Communication and Humanities of the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), in collaboration with the UAB Publications Service, held the award ceremony for the 6th UAB Literary Journalism Award, which this year was presented to Laura Serrat Casamitjana, from Manresa, a former student of the Master’s programme. The event, held at the Faculty of Communication Sciences, also served to announce the launch of a new editorial series devoted to narrative journalism.

The UAB Literary Journalism Award recognises unpublished works of narrative journalism and documentary literature written in Catalan and has become a platform for promoting new voices in the field. In this sixth edition, the jury particularly highlighted the literary quality, journalistic rigour and narrative strength of the work submitted by Laura Serrat Casamitjana.

The ceremony was attended by UAB institutional representatives, including Virginia Luzón, Vice-Rector for Communication; David Vidal, Director of the Master’s Degree in Literary Journalism, Communication and Humanities, and Joan Carles Marset, Head of the UAB Publications Service, as well as members of the jury, students and family members.

A new editorial series

The UAB Publications Service will publish the winning work in both print and digital formats, inaugurating the new editorial series Literary Journalism. This new series aims to provide continuity to the Award and to establish a stable space for the publication of high-quality works of narrative journalism and documentary literature.

The Literary Journalism series reinforces the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona’s commitment to the promotion of the Catalan language, the dissemination of knowledge, and the dialogue between academia and the professional world of journalism, enabling works produced within the university context to reach a wider audience.

Since its inception, the UAB Literary Journalism Award has sought to recognise novelistic reportage and unpublished works of documentary literature, while fostering creativity, critical thinking and narrative excellence in journalism.

Next Friday, April 12, at 7.30 pm, Antonio Loriguillo López will present his book "Anime complejo. La ambigüedad narrativa en la animación japonesa", at the Faculty of Philology, Translation and Communication of the Universitat de València (UV).

The book was published in 2021 and is number 43 of the collection on communication and ICT, Aldea Global, co-published by the Universitat de València, the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, the Universitat Jaume I, and the Universitat Pompeu Fabra.

On the occasion of the recent recognition of the volume with the mention to the "Book where Asian Film, Media and Communication Sciences" in the IBP 2023 Portuguese/Spanish Language Edition granted by the International Institute for Asian Studies (IIAS), the author will give this conference, organized by the Consulate General of Japan in Barcelona, Tradiasia Project, Universitat de València, and with the collaboration of Casa Asia, GREGAL-UAB and InterAsia.

About the book

Recognizable to successive generations of viewers around the world for the charm of its character design and simple animation, "anime" arrives in the second decade of the new millennium as one of the ambassadors of Japanese culture, a consumer good manufactured by one of the most important mass culture production centers on the planet. 

But is it a formulaic art, devoid of narrative sophistication? This book proposes an approach to complex narrative in "anime", a key feature in its construction as a cultural identity through series such as Evangelion or films such as Ghost in the Shell. Is this narrative complexity the reaction of producers to the threat of the interactivity of videogames? Does it obey a strategy that uses narrative experimentation in the multi-screen era to focus on its multiple market niches? Or is it the definitive hybridization of previously opposed narrative modes: classicism versus art and essay? 

Through the historical poetics of narrative modes and the tools of filmic analysis of narratology, Antonio Loriguillo suggests a brief chronology of complex "anime" in which we see that its narrative obscurity is key to its establishment as another type of narration in the global commercial audiovisual.

About the author

Antonio Loriguillo-López is Associate Professor at the Universitat Jaume I (UJI) and member of the ITACA research group at the same university, as well as the GREGAL research group (UAB) at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona. He teaches in the degrees in Audiovisual Communication and in Video Game Design and Development, as well as in the Official Master in New Trends and Innovation Processes in Communication at the UJI. His research interests focus on post-classical storytelling in contemporary audiovisual and Japanese commercial animation. In this regard, he is the author of the monographs Perfect Blue (Satoshi Kon, 1997): Guía para ver y analizar (Nau Llibres, 2020) and Anime complejo: la ambigüedad narrativa en la animación japonesa (Aldea Global, 2021).

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From Tuesday 1 to Thursday 3 October, Feria de Barcelona will host the 42nd edition of the International Book Fair (LIBER), promoted by the Federation of Publishers' Guilds of Spain (FGEE).

LIBER is one of the main trade fairs for the export, exhibition and promotion of publishing in Spanish. The event will bring together publishers of all subject areas who will present their bibliographic collections and novelties, and companies with products and services related to the production, marketing and distribution of books, as well as digital content (ebooks, audiobooks, podcasts), and professional associations.

Some of the latest new publications from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB), such as Pensar con el paladar. Una estética gustatoria, by Jèssica Jaques and Gerard Vilar; Las claves de la investigación científica, by Julio Mario Hoyos and Juan Carlos Moreno, or Innovación y liderazgo. El nacimiento del código de barras, by Gabriel Izard, will be on display at the fair. As usual, the UAB Publications Service will be present at LIBER through the stands of the Unión de Editoriales Universitarias Españolas (UNE) and Pujol y Amadó Export.

From Tuesday, October 7 to Thursday, October 9, IFEMA MADRID will host the 42nd edition of the International Book Fair (Liber), promoted by the Federation of Spanish Publishers’ Guilds (FGEE).

Liber is one of the main trade fairs for the export, showcase, and promotion of publishing in Spanish. The event will bring together publishers from all fields, presenting their catalogues and new releases, as well as companies offering products and services related to book production, marketing, and distribution, in addition to digital content (e-books, audiobooks, podcasts), as well as professional associations.

Some of the latest editorial releases from the Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB), such as Economía circular. El camino hacia la sostenibilidad, de Joan Rieradevall i Carles Gasol; Feminismo no es sexismo. Conversaciones sobre género y desigualdad, de Marc Barbeta-Viñas i María Jesús Izquierdo; o Pensar con el paladar. Una estética gustatoria, by Jèssica Jaques and Gabriel Vilar, will be showcased at the Fair.

As usual, the UAB Publications Service will be present at Liber through the stands of the Union of Spanish University Publishers (UNE) and Pujol y Amadó Export.

Eduard Roure Blàvia, author of the novel ‘El metall i els turons’, will take part in a unique activity that will combine nature and literature, next 21st September in his town, Torregrossa (Lleida). It is a walk around the village that will culminate with the presentation of the book by the writer.

The work, winner of the XXIX Premi de Novel-la ‘Valldaura- Memorial Pere Calders’ in 2023, organised by the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and the Ajuntament de Cerdanyola del Vallès, explores the social conflicts and conflicting interests that exist in a village in the interior of Catalonia. Through a plot rich in intrigue and corruption, the author paints an in-depth portrait of the inhabitants of a tense territory. The walk, which is expected to last about fifty minutes, will start at 5.30 p.m., at Plaça 11 de setembre in Torregrossa, and will end at the Cabana de la partida de Paradell. The activity proposes to visit places that could be scenes from the novel, in a setting that evokes the conflicts described in the work. At the end, there will be a conversation with the author, where participants will have the opportunity to learn more details about the novel and share impressions with him in a privileged natural environment.

Source: https://femllavor.blogspot.com/

The 84th edition of the Fira del Llibre de Madrid will be held from 30 May to 15 June. The Servei de Publicacions de la Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona is exhibiting some of its new publications for the 2024-2025 academic year at the stand of the Unión de Editoriales Universitarias Españolas (UNE).

This year, the fair revalidates the strategic space of the Plaça de la Ciència i les Universitats which, from 2023, improves the presence of university publishers and research centres.

On this occasion, the UAB publishing house will present titles such as Pensar amb el paladar. Una estética gustatoria, by Jèssica Jaques and Gerard Vilar; Feminismo no es sexismo. Conversations on gender and inequality, by María Jesús Izquierdo and Marc Barbeta, and Economía circular. El camino hacia la sostenibilidad, by Joan Rieradevall and Carles Gasol.

From May 29 to June 14, the 85th edition of the Madrid Book Fair will take place. The Publications Service of the Autonomous University of Barcelona will showcase some of its new releases for the 2025–2026 academic year at the stand of the Spanish Association of University Presses (UNE).

This year, the fair once again highlights the strategic space of the Science and Universities Square, which since 2023 has enhanced the presence of university presses and research centres.

On this occasion, the UAB publishing house will present titles such as The Autumn of Antiquity, by Javier Arce; Feminism Is Not Sexism. Conversations on Gender and Inequality, by María Jesús Izquierdo and Marc Barbeta; and Circular Economy. The Path Towards Sustainability, by Joan Rieradevall and Carles Gasol.

Doctors Joan Rieradevall Pons and Carles Gasol Martínez will talk about their book ‘Economía circular. El camino hacia la sostenibilidad’, on Thursday 5 June, at 6 p.m., at the Mundana space in Barcelona (Calle Aribau, 34).

Coinciding with World Environment Day, the authors will talk with the co-founders of the shop, Anna and Jaume Colomer, about the policies, indicators, tools and innovation strategies that reduce the environmental impact of consumption, and which are carried out in this space located in the heart of Barcelona's Eixample.

The event is part of a programme that the space has organised for 4 and 5 June, which also includes other activities such as special sales, with the presence of fashion and accessories designers Cristina Korres and Joan Sales (Dino JSJ).

A sustainable pairing

Since its founding in June 2019, Mundana as been committed to responsible sales and consumption, with durable products that are not governed by trends. Its founders have conceived the shop as a meeting place ‘for those who make and for those who are looking for products outside the usual circuits’. In this way, the space at Calle Aribau 34 is a refuge offering a selection of icons that transcend time, and new interpretations of the most everyday standards. Origin aside, Mundana believes in a sustainability linked to the use and maintenance of the products, fleeing from those articles that the trend makes perish too early.

A perfect pairing with the book ‘Economía circular. El camino hacia la sostenibilidad’, which proposes the circular economy as one of the decisive strategies for achieving sustainable development. In the book, professors of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering Joan Rieradevall Pons and Carles Gasol Martínez present case studies, indicators, tools and strategies for innovation, prevention and minimisation of resources, as well as examples of circular eco-design and global improvement of products and services to demonstrate that a completely circular future is possible.

The UAB Publications Service has been responsible for publishing the book, which is available in paper format for a fee and free open-access electronic format.

Dialogue on the book ‘Circular Economy. On the road to sustainability’.

Day: Thursday, 5 June

Time: 6 p.m.

Place: Mundana (Calle Aribau 34, 08011 Barcelona)

Please confirm your attendance at: info@mundanalife.com

The Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona and the City Council of Cerdanyola del Vallès have announced a new edition of the Literary Awards for 2025. The original works can be submitted from Friday 13 December via the form on the competition's website.

The cultural event, which aims to promote the dissemination of original and unpublished works written in the Catalan language, will be held once again this year with the following types of prizes and financial awards:

• XXXI ‘Valldaura-Memorial Pere Calders’ Novel Prize, worth 3,000 euros. 
• XXX Prize for Poetry ‘Miquel Martí i Pol’, with a prize of 1,000 euros. 
• XVI ‘Caterina Albert’ Short Narrative Prize, with a prize of 500 euros. 

The deadline for submission of original works is Friday 7 February 2025. As usual, the method of submission will be via an online form on the website of the awards, where you can also consult the rules for each award and follow the news of the evolution of the contest.

The winners of this new edition will be announced at an awards ceremony to be held in May.

The winning books of 2024 

The winning works of the 2024 edition, Ilha do Farol, by Miquel Ribas Figueras; Ballar amb els espectres, by Josep Antoni Aguilar Àvila; Eixint de fer, by Josep Domènech Ponsatí; and Pausa, sucre, Sevilla, by Carla Clúa Alcón, have been published by the UAB Publications Service and can now be purchased in print and electronic format on the website of the university publishing house (the short narrative work is only available in open access electronic format).

From 16 June to 30 September, the sixth edition of the Literary Journalism Prize will be open, with which the Master's in Literary Journalism, Communication and Humanities of the UAB, in collaboration with the Publications Service, distinguishes novel-lat reports and unpublished works of documentary literature in Catalan. The rules can be consulted on the website of the master's degree. The winning work will be announced in December.

The Master's Degree in Literary Journalism, Communication and Humanities at the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB) was created in 2012 in response to the need for a broad and consistent training in communication and humanities. The studies stand out for making use of its own methodology in quality journalism and writing resources in composition and style. In 2013, the Master's degree promoted the 1st UAB Literary Journalism Award with the aim of recognising the best works of documentary literature and novel-lat reportage arising from the final master's degree projects (TFM) of its students, with participation open to everyone. Since then, the different editions of the award have been organised with the collaboration of several private publishers, such as Editorial Base and Ángulo Editorial. The 6th Literary Journalism Prize will have the participation of the UAB Publications Service, which will be in charge of publishing and distributing the winning work in paper and digital format.

According to the new 2025 rules, the works submitted must be unpublished, written in Catalan and have a length of between 130,000 and 170,000 characters (including white spaces). The deadline for submitting original works opens on Monday 16 June and closes on Tuesday 30 September.

Over the years, the jury for the Prize has been made up of Master's lecturers who are also writers, such as Miqui Otero, Juan Pablo Villalobos, Esteve Plantada, Eileen Truax and Begoña Gómez Urzaiz, and other important writers on the national and international literary or journalistic scene, such as Leila Guerriero, Gaby Martínez and Txell Feixas, among many others. The jury of this sixth edition will be made public before the closing date and its verdict will be announced at a prize-giving ceremony in December 2025, in a place to be determined.

Previous calls for entries and winning works

The prize has been held biannually since 2013, the first two times with the collaboration of Editorial Base, which published two anthologies of the winning pieces. The first was Cuando encuentres a Malinowski y otros relatos de periodismo literario (2013), with pieces on the investigation of an old Argentinian poet lost in Barcelona in the 1970s, the ETA attack on the petrochemical plant in Tarragona and the text, both funny and tragic, about an enterprising housewife who, faced with the crisis, decides to open a brothel in her own home. The second call for entries (2015) gave rise to Ritmos para el paraíso, also with three stories: one about the survival of migration in Barcelona, another that investigates a case of flagrant (and terrible) miscarriage of justice, and a last one that deals with the tradition of post-war children in the Ebro of collecting scrap metal from the final battle of the Civil War, a custom that became a lifelong hobby and true domestic museums, a very different approach to the war conflict.

The last three calls for entries for the Prize have been made with Ángulo Editorial, which has published the winning works: 23 días de diciembre, by Marc Amat, a mystery case about the death of a relative; Menors i migrants, by Marina Sonadellas, a social worker in a centre for migrant minors, which was also published in Spanish by Polen Editorial; and La Bodega, by Miguel Peña, about the closure of the famous Rafel bar in the Sant Antoni market, which deals with the gentrification and touristification of Barcelona through the closure of a historic bar where twenty-four hours were spent, a work inspired by Joseph Mitchell's mythical work on the oldest bar in New York. Dozens of works have also been published that have not won in recent years, but which are of high quality. Some of the most recent are Las niñas de Elna, by Marc Solanes, or Santa Carolina, by Julieta Morales.

Data

6th Literary Journalism Prize

Organised by: Master's Degree in Literary Journalism, Communication and Humanities at the UAB.

In collaboration with: Publications Service of the UAB

Entries: from 16 June to 30 September 2025

Rules and further information: https://periodisme-literari.uab.cat