Isa Soares: “We must be eager to find answers to the most difficult questions”

“To be a good journalist, you have to be driven and eager to find answers to the toughest questions,” said Isa Soares, a Portuguese journalist for CNN International and host of the television show *Isa Soares Tonight*, during a web meeting with students at the University of Navarra. The web meeting was part of the “ framework ” (The Future of Journalism) series, organized by the “ agreement ” (Center for Journalism and Communication Studies) in partnership with the CNN Academy and the School of Communication. The host discussed the role of television in news coverage, the challenge of informing a global audience, and new media consumption habits in an interconnected world, among other topics. 

Soares has had the opportunity to cover various international events, many of them on the ground, such as Brexit and the terrorist attacks in Nice and Barcelona. Throughout his career spanning more than 20 years, he has interviewed various figures from the global political and economic scene. He spoke to the students about the importance of advance preparation and reliable sources of information. 

During the session, moderated by Professor Beatriz Gómez, Soares reflected on how the way society gets its news has changed and on new ways of connecting with audiences. “We have to ask the questions and keep investigating until we get the answer,” he emphasized, highlighting traditional journalism as the foundation of any news story. 

When it comes to covering international news for a global audience, he noted that the core topic is “focusing on personal stories because it’s all about the human element. We cover politics from that approach perspective. It’s not easy to convey, but it opens many doors.” 

Soares emphasized that to practice journalism, “you don’t have to be a genius or the smartest person around; you just need to be interested in the world and in people.” In conclusion, he noted that the most important thing in this official document is to love the profession and to understand clearly that it is a public service: “At a time when democracy is in danger, journalists must defend it.”