FIL Guadalajara awards Merry MacMasters, of ‘La Jornada’

Merry MacMasters, will postpone The Day, Fernando Benítez will receive the National Tribute to Cultural Journalism in the context of the International Book Fair (FIL) of Guadalajara, on December 8, for its career of more than four decades and for being a reference in the field of communication of culture and the arts, chronicle, reportage and its constant coverage and specialization in the plastic arts.

The decision was made by a committee made up of the five personalities previously recognized with this tribute, in whose considerations it was highlighted that There is a certain constant in cultural journalism that leads some communicators to change sources or give up continuity; Merry’s case is totally opposite to this trend.

Previously, Braulio Peralta, Adriana Malvido, Jesús Alejo and Héctor Aguilar Camín have received this award, in the most recent editions.

Throughout her career, Merry MacMasters, originally from New York State, has been a key figure in cultural journalism in Mexico and has worked in various media, where she has conducted interviews with prominent national and international artists, in addition to having covered extensive number of samples.

In a statement, the FIL organizers highlighted that MacMasters, With his journalistic work, he has highlighted the importance of cultural institutions and their role in the preservation and dissemination of Mexico’s artistic heritage. Her voice, not only as a journalist, but as a promoter of art and culture in general, has contributed to generating important dialogues about culture in contemporary society..

Merry MacMasters graduated with a degree in art history from the Universidad Iberoamericana, and has formed her career in cultural journalism in Mexico for more than 40 years. Her career began in 1980 as a reporter for Radio UNAM, and later at the newspaper The National, where he worked until 1994, the year he joined The Day, where until today she works as a cultural reporter.

Merry MacMasters has been a reporter for this newspaper’s cultural source since 1994. Photo Cristina Rodríguez

Among the most important coverages he has carried out are the litigation of works by Remedios Varo and the disappearance of pieces in Los Pinos, in addition to conducting interviews with figures such as Leonora Carrington, Spencer Tunick, Rufino Tamayo, Manuel Felguérez or Francisco Toledo, among others. .

The FIL also reported that the Fernando Benítez National Tribute to Cultural Journalism this year will be dedicated to the memory of the great journalist, editor and narrator Cristina Pacheco, who died in December 2023.

The host of the program Here we had to live y Conversing with Cristina Pacheco He stood out in the management of genres such as interviews, chronicles and reports.

During his lifetime he received important recognitions such as the Federation of Latin American Journalists Award for his professional career (1988), the Manuel Buendía Award (1992), the National Award from the Journalists Club for best interview (1998) and the Benítez de la Feria Tribute. Guadalajara Book International, in 2000.

The Fernando Benítez National Tribute to Cultural Journalism was created by the FIL Guadalajara and awarded for the first time in 1992 to the author of The Indians of Mexico; Since then it has been awarded to celebrate the career of those who have dedicated themselves to the dissemination of art and culture.

The recognition ceremony for Merry MacMasters will be on December 8 at 5 p.m. in the Juan Rulfo auditorium of the FIL Guadalajara.