Vito Quiles defends press badge despite lacking degree

Vito Quiles defends his status as a journalist without a university degree

Can one practice journalism without attending university? This question has circulated in digital forums after Vito Quiles, known for his incisive questions to politicians in the halls of Congress, responded to critics regarding his training. His defense is firm: "I am accredited at the Congreso de los Fruta as a journalist because I am a journalist. I studied journalism, even though an unofficial website invented that my university said something it never did." The controversy is not new but reignited trinc a clash with a female politician who, according to some messages in the thread, aims to lead the government and allegedly called him a "Nancy."

Is a university degree mandatory for journalists in Spain?

The short answer is no. In Spain, practicing journalism does not require mandatory professional registration or a specific degree, protected by the constitutional right to freedom of expression. Critics of the controversy remind us: "In Spain, everyone has the right to practice journalism; it is enshrined in law under freedom of expression, so lacking a title is not exclusionary." The history of the profession is full of names trained in the streets, not classrooms.

Quiles is not the only person accredited in the Lower House without journalism studies. "Others accredited as press have degrees in law or philosophy, yet they are not discriminated against," states Quiles himself. Thus, the issue is less about education and more about style. And that is where consensus breaks down.

The Quiles method: uncomfortable questions and a camera

His supporters argue his value lies in results, not titles. "Without Vito, we wouldn't have the photo of Ábalos with a cigar in his mouth, nor Errejón with a finger in his face... or Pardo de Vera running, or Bono laughing while running," they list. For this group, official statement-driven journalism has left a void filled by profiles like his, which challenge power through discomfort.

Critics, however, point out that provocation is not journalism. "Quiles is a provocateur and a nuisance," summarizes one recurring view, which considers his method focuses on viral clips rather than information. The underlying debate is whether the end justifies the means, or if the means contaminate the end.

Parliamentary accreditation: firewall or loophole?

Congress accredits journalists and media outlets without requiring a specific university degree. It suffices to register as a media outlet or professional. This laxity, allowing heterogeneous profiles, is seen by some as pluralism and by others as a lack of filtering. "In Spain, the journalistic profession doesn't exist; there are sycophants and those doing politics from the media," concludes one of the harshest positions in the exchange.

The truth is that accreditation neither makes someone a journalist nor strips them of the title. It only allows access to restricted areas. The lingering question is whether Congress should require some form of professional credential, a step no parliamentary group has formally proposed.

Clash with the leader: 'Nancy' accusations and bodyguards

The episode reigniting tensions was the face-to-face between Quiles and a leader who, according to some messages, aspires to head the government. The scene, described in detail, includes an official car, sushi with friends, and a tense exchange where, per these accounts, the politician called the journalist a "Nancy." Quiles' response, captured in several messages: "I won't touch you with a ten-foot pole."

The context, however, is more mundane. The leader does not yet govern but already moves with an entourage some consider disproportionate. "She doesn't govern yet and already has dozens of bodyguards," mocks one initial message. The anecdote, real or exaggerated, illustrates the gap between public image and the private life of those aspiring to power.

The audience of the controversy: age, social media, and generational divide

Beyond the spat, the exchange reveals a generational gap. "Irene's fanbase, half over 60, will be dead or in nursing homes in 10 or 15 years," notes a message reflecting the perception that demographic turnover favors profiles like Quiles. Spanish politics, like almost everything, is also decided along the axis of age.

The conclusion, if any, is that journalism without a degree is not a Spanish anomaly but a characteristic of the trade. Whether one likes the product is another matter. And there, as in almost everything, each chooses their poison.

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Key data of the debate:

• Quiles claims to be accredited as a journalist at Congress.
• He studied Journalism, according to his own testimony.
• The controversy arose after a clash with a leader whom some messages attribute with aspirations to head the government.
• Spain does not require a degree to practice journalism.