Journalist Álex Grijelmo nominated for Royal Spanish Academy seat

The Royal Spanish Academy (RAE) has officially nominated journalist and writer Álex Grijelmo to fill the vacant 'o' seat. This position has been empty since the passing of academic Antonio Fernández de Alba on May 7, 2024.

Grijelmo's nomination is backed by three established RAE members: Juan Luis Cebrián, José Antonio Pascual, and Salvador Gutiérrez Ordóñez, adhering to the academy's admission regulations. The formal presentation of his merits and the subsequent vote are scheduled for June 4 and June 11, respectively, as confirmed by the RAE.

This announcement comes shortly after writer Sergio Ramírez was elected to occupy the 'L' seat. Grijelmo, born in Burgos in 1956, boasts a distinguished career primarily with the newspaper 'El País,' where he held significant editorial roles and was responsible for the publication's style guide. He also served as the journalistic director for Prisa's local and regional newspaper group and has led the UAM-EL PAÍS Journalism School since 2018.

His extensive experience includes a tenure as president of the EFE Agency from 2004 to 2012, during which he spearheaded the creation of the Foundation for Urgent Spanish in 2005. Grijelmo is also a prolific author, with several books focusing on language, including 'El estilo del periodista' (1997), 'Defensa apasionada del idioma español' (1998), and 'El genio del idioma' (2004). The RAE comprises 46 seats, and currently, the induction speeches for filologist Cristina Sánchez López (for the 'p' seat) and writer Sergio Ramírez (for the 'L' seat) are also pending.

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The RAE plenum has proclaimed the candidacy of journalist and writer Álex Grijelmo to occupy the 'o' seat, vacant since the death of academic Antonio Fernández de Alba on May 7, 2024.