Journalist Paloma del Río Awarded Honorary Doctorate by UMH

The Miguel Hernández University (UMH) awarded an Honorary Doctorate to journalist Paloma del Río this morning during the closing ceremony of the academic year. The sponsor of the new Honorary Doctor is Carmen María López Rico, a professor in the Journalism Area at UMH. During the ceremony, held in the Auditorium of the Rectorate and Social Council building on the Elche campus, UMH also presented 93 Extraordinary Awards for the 2023/24 academic year for undergraduate and master's degrees.

The event was presided over by UMH Rector Juan José Ruiz; Vice President of the Social Council, Diego García; Vice Rector for Research and Transfer, Ángel Carbonell; Vice Rector for Students and Coordination, José Juan López; and the General Secretary of UMH, Mercedes Sánchez. Among the attendees were the President of the Valencian Parliament, Llanos Massó, the Regional Secretary of Universities, Esther Gómez, and the Director General of Universities, José Antonio Pérez.

Prior to the ceremony, Paloma del Río, a prominent figure in sports journalism, inaugurated the pink Brachychiton tree (Brachychiton discolor) in the Honoris Garden on the Elche campus of UMH, planted in her honor with her name.

The Honoris Garden is located around the Rectorate and Social Council building and aims to preserve and recognize the various Honorary Doctorates awarded by UMH. This initiative began several years ago, and each Honorary Doctor selects a specimen that is planted alongside informational signs with the Doctor's name, as well as the common and specific names of the specimen, accompanied by a QR code with more information about the planted tree.

Paloma del Río, a leading figure in Spanish sports journalism, has developed her journalistic career over 37 years at RTVE, where she held positions such as Chief Sports Editor, Director of Sports Programs, and Coordinator of Sponsorships and Federations. An unmistakable voice in disciplines such as gymnastics, figure skating, and equestrian, she has covered 16 Olympic Games and has become a symbol of public service sports journalism on television.