Travelling with Chester closed its season yesterday, wrapping up with two guests who made headlines. One guest was Malu, who, besides reflecting on her music career, spoke with Risto Mejide about her split from Albert Rivera. The other guest was Pedro Piqueras. The production will bid farewell to television in the coming weeks after more than 45 years in the industry.
During his conversation with Risto, the journalist praised Carlos Franganillo, who will take over as head of Informativos Telecinco. He called the choice a solid one and expressed happiness about the transition.
Franganillo and Mejide described their shared view of journalism as strikingly compatible. Piqueras noted that Franganillo’s signing ceremony was a moment of satisfaction for him, recalling his own cooperation to help Franganillo come to Mediaset and feeling confident about the move.
Mejide pointed out that Franganillo arrived at Mediaset during a challenging period, marked by a dip in audience figures. Piqueras acknowledged the same tough climate, mentioning the producers’ frustrations after the leak of a popular program name and the impact it had on the network.
On retirement, Piqueras admitted it stirred a touch of irritation, given Mediaset’s emphasis on the Informativos Telecinco brand. He described the leadership of the CEO, Alessandro Salem, as placing a strong emphasis on news, with plans to construct a top-tier set. He highlighted the arrival of Paco Moreno, a close ally, as a sign of the new direction. Still, he remained optimistic about his own retirement, noting that the honor of shaping and stabilizing a major informational project takes time and that his own timeline would place him in his early seventies by the end of the current phase.
Piqueras emphasized that it is more honest to trust the successor and to offer support to a capable and worthy replacement. He conceded that leaving the helm would entail sacrificing a substantial salary and other perks, but believed the future would grow stronger with the right leadership.
Piqueras addresses the amnesty law
The conversation with Pedro Piqueras also touched on political matters, with the host probing his guest on amnesty. When asked, Piqueras shared that his stance had evolved. He had initially supported the amnesty bill, but now questions its suitability given the political dynamics and the votes involved.
In a candid取り discussion conducted in television format, Piqueras suggested that amnesty should be decided by a government capable of bridging gaps with opposition figures. He expressed the belief that mutual understanding is essential and that a path toward amnesty might reflect a generous posture from a governing body with constructive relations with opponents. The underlying idea he conveyed is that progress across divides depends on cooperation and sustained dialogue.
Across the dialogue, the emphasis remained on professional transitions, newsroom strategy, and the broader political context shaping Spanish television. The exchanges painted a portrait of seasoned journalists reflecting on evolution in broadcast leadership, the pressures of audience expectations, and the delicate balance between editorial independence and organizational direction. The conversations also underscored the role of mentorship and succession in sustaining journalistic standards through leadership changes, as well as the importance of frank, respectful discourse in discussing policy matters that resonate far beyond the studio.
The overall mood suggested a sense of confidence about the future of the program and the newsroom, even as it acknowledged the inevitable shifts that come with long careers in media. The participants spoke with a blend of pride, humility, and practical realism about the tasks that lie ahead for those who keep audiences informed and engaged in an ever-changing media landscape.
In sum, the season’s closing panel offered a snapshot of industry transition. It highlighted the human side of moving on, the strategic considerations behind leadership changes, and the political currents that influence newsrooms and the larger conversation about accountability, transparency, and public trust in journalism.
The discussions served as a reminder that television is not just a platform for reporting but a living ecosystem where experience, new ideas, and ongoing dialogue continually shape how information reaches viewers across the region.