Past Meetings

Costa Press Club members held their November meeting at the alma mater of many of their Spanish counterparts – the Journalism and Communication Sciences Faculty at Málaga University – where they were invited to tour the facilities being used by the next generation of journalists and content providers. 

As well as lecture rooms and state-of-the -art recording and TV production studios, the faculty has a historic dark room where students can develop photos just as press photographers did before the advent of digital technology: this brought a wave of nostalgia to some of the more senior members of the club!

Part of the tour included a meeting with a group of life-long learners attending one of the university’s courses for Over 55s – the “Aula de Mayores” programme – who were preparing a Christmas radio presentation.

The visit was hosted by four members of the faculty including the dean, Juan Antonio García Galindo,  and Laura López Romero, a long-standing friend of the Costa Press Club, both of whom specialise in the history of the foreign language media in Spain.

Text by Liz Parry

Photo “Aula de Mayores” by Laura López Romero

The highlight of the September meeting of the Costa Press Club was a talk given by Civil Guard officers from Seprona, the nature protection unit. 

Generally known to the public for their work with protected animal species, they  explained the many other facets of their work, illustrating them with examples ranging from investigation into the causes of forest fires, to a recent case of a multi-million euro fraud operation involving the re-sale of tyres sent for safe waste disposal as being unfit for use. 

Seprona is also involved in education, and as a world-leading nature protection force is often called on to help with environmental crimes in other European countries and in South America.

Capitán Marta Vilanova, Brigada José Benito Alonso and Guardia José Antonio Gómez were warmly applauded by Costa Press Club members and their guests, and continued to discuss their work and answer questions over an excellent dinner at La Sierra Restaurant at Cerrado del Águila Golf.

Text by Liz Parry

Photos by Rafa Blanco

Main photo above: Captain Marta Vilanova talking about Seprona’s diverse roles

The Costa Press Club held a Summer Kick-Off party at El Faro Playa in Mijas Costa, where members welcomed the onset of summer with an excellent beach-side meal, and some light-hearted entertainment in the form of a competition to find the best “summery look”.

Members were also invited to take part in an “Open Mic” session to talk about their latest projects or whatever topic was close to their hearts. Rachel Haynes, editor of SUR in English, spoke about plans to celebrate the newspaper’s 40th anniversary – some of those present said they remembered reading the first ever edition, on 20 July 1984 – and all the changes in media technology that the last 40 years have brought. Nicole King talked about her TV programme “Good Morning Spain” which, despite its relatively recent appearance, is obtaining excellent feedback, and she welcomed CPC members Ali Meehan and Neil Hesketh who have joined her as regular contributors to the programme.

Wendy Cowham of The Costa Connection Magazine took the opportunity to pay tribute to the late Anne Hernández MBE, of Brexpats in Spain, who had been a regular contributor to the publication. Wendy also explained how the magazine had successfully gone about attracting a younger readership.

David Tweed, who is a trustee of the English Cemetery in Málaga Foundation, has been working hard to raise the profile of the cemetery, pointing out its prime position in the centre of the fastest growing and most cosmopolitan city in Spain. He aims to make its 19th century garden a drought-tolerant sustainable icon, and enable it to be self-financing by the sale of burial plots (for ashes).

As the club president, Neil Hesketh, was unable to decide on an outright winner of the “summery outfit” prize, the accolade was finally shared between Patrick Meehan, who was attired in a Hawaiian-type shirt with the peculiarity that the trees in the pattern were upside down, and Louise Cook-Edwards and Gary Edwards, who were wearing colourfully coordinated outfits and hats.

The next meeting of the Costa Press Club will be in September – if you would like to join please visit the website for details.

Text by Liz Parry

Photo by Karl Smallman: (from left) Patrick Meehan, Louise Cook-Edwards and Gary Edwards

The Costa Press Club chose Marbella as the venue for its April meeting, and the theme was appropriately "Marbella moves with the times" – illustrated by a talk in the Hotel El Fuerte Marbella, which recently reopened as a stunning five-star establishment following a €31 million refurbishment. 

The speaker, José Luque, president of the Costa del Sol Hoteliers' Association (AEHCOS) and CEO of Fuerte Hotels, was introduced by club committee member Louise Cook-Edwards, who had coordinated the event, and president Neil Hesketh. Luque illustrated the changes that have taken place in Marbella over the past decades through the history of the hotel, which was established after his father, a former chocolate factory owner from Estepa, bought the site in 1954. When he died, his widow successfully adapted from being a housewife to running a hotel while their five children completed their studies. All then joined the business. 

As the Costa del Sol has grown and flourished, Marbella has won the reputation of being the grand dame of luxury tourism, and this year it was awarded the title of “Best European Destination”. The family have continued to lead the way, opening more luxury and innovative lifestyle hotels, with the flagship El Fuerte Marbella waterside hotel always at the forefront.

After a tour of the hotel, club members moved on to another recently upgraded establishment, Óbal Urban Hotel, which was formerly known as the San Cristóbal. Owned by the Parra family,  this hotel has been an iconic part of Marbella life for many decades and it has now had a total upgrade to four stars and a new, vibrant urban concept. After cocktails on the terrace and a tour, members sat down to an excellent meal served in the hotel's Restaurante Alameda.

Text by Liz Parry

Photo by Karl Smallman: José Luque (centre) with Louise Cook-Edwards and Neil Hesketh

The Costa Press Club chose Marbella as the venue for its April meeting, and the theme was appropriately "Marbella moves with the times" – illustrated by a talk in the Hotel El Fuerte Marbella, which recently reopened as a stunning five-star establishment following a €31 million refurbishment. 

The speaker, José Luque, president of the Costa del Sol Hoteliers' Association (AEHCOS) and CEO of Fuerte Hotels, was introduced by club committee member Louise Cook-Edwards, who had coordinated the event, and president Neil Hesketh. Luque illustrated the changes that have taken place in Marbella over the past decades through the history of the hotel, which was established after his father, a former chocolate factory owner from Estepa, bought the site in 1954. When he died, his widow successfully adapted from being a housewife to running a hotel while their five children completed their studies. All then joined the business. 

As the Costa del Sol has grown and flourished, Marbella has won the reputation of being the grand dame of luxury tourism, and this year it was awarded the title of “Best European Destination”. The family have continued to lead the way, opening more luxury and innovative lifestyle hotels, with the flagship El Fuerte Marbella waterside hotel always at the forefront.

After a tour of the hotel, club members moved on to another recently upgraded establishment, Óbal Urban Hotel, which was formerly known as the San Cristóbal. Owned by the Parra family,  this hotel has been an iconic part of Marbella life for many decades and it has now had a total upgrade to four stars and a new, vibrant urban concept. After cocktails on the terrace and a tour, members sat down to an excellent meal served in the hotel's Restaurante Alameda.

Text by Liz Parry

Photo by Karl Smallman: José Luque (centre) with Louise Cook-Edwards and Neil Hesketh

The Costa Press Club held its February meeting in Málaga city, and there was an excellent turn-out of members and their guests to hear the pre-dinner discussion about “Writing and publishing under the microscope”. The subject was close to many members’ hearts, and there was the additional attraction of fine dining provided by La Alvaroteca, making for a hugely enjoyable evening.

The panel of authors taking part in the event were: Joan Fallon, author of 17 published books, many set against a Spanish historical backdrop; Nick Foster, who writes true crime books; and bilingual fantasy writer Katie Lewis, whose book “A Curse of Love and Law” is available in both English and Spanish and is the first of a series. All three spoke about their own backgrounds and what inspires them to write, and offered advice to aspiring authors.

Photos by Karl Smallman

Following the untimely death last year of the Costa Press Club’s president, the much-lamented Jesper Sander Pedersen, club members were called to an EGM to vote for a new president and committee. Neil Hesketh, who had been serving as acting president, headed the only candidature list presented for election, and he was duly elected along with the previous committee members and with the addition of Louise Cook Edwards, who joins the committee as an executive member. The other committee members are: Liz Parry (first vice president), Sally Harrison (second vice president), Joanna Styles (secretary), Peter Leonard (treasurer) and Karl Smallman (executive member).

The EGM, held at Restaurante Vegetalia in Los Boliches, coincided with the Annual General Meeting, at which plans for the coming year were outlined by the new president. This was followed by a most enjoyable buffet dinner prepared by Vegetalia owner Katja Gilan and her staff.

Photo of Neil Hesketh and Louise Cook Edwards – by Karl Smallman

The Costa Press Club holds its regular meetings in different venues around Málaga province, and the choice for the Christmas party this year was El Olivo restaurant in La Cala de Mijas. Members enjoyed an excellent dinner and then took part in a seasonal quiz won by Jennie Rhodes and Joan Fallon. This was followed by the distribution of Secret Santa gifts – and a reminder that the AGM will be held on 5 January at Vegetalia restaurant in Fuengirola.

 Photos by Karl Smallman

 

 

The Costa Press Club held its October meeting in Málaga city, which is in the midst of a series of events commemorating the 50th anniversary of the death of Pablo Picasso, including a special exhibition in the museum attached to the artist’s birthplace in the Plaza de la Merced. Entitled “La Imagen de Picasso” this exhibition gives a fascinating insight into how he has been portrayed over the years in every form of media from photos, videos and sculptures to newspaper articles, cartoons and comments on social media. 

The museum invited members of the Costa Press Club to a private guided tour, and they were interested to hear, for example, about the significance of the portrayal of Picasso in the Spanish media – even while he was in exile from Franco’s Spain. Unlike many other artists and intellectuals, he was just too famous and revered for the media to be banned from mentioning him.

Members then adjourned to the nearby Eme de Mariano restaurant for a convivial and traditional Málaga dinner to round off the evening.

 Photos by Karl Smallman

The Costa Press Club's first autumn 2023 meeting took place at La Sierra, the restaurant in Cerrado del Águila Golf Club in Mijas Costa. The event's speaker was Canadian-born Sonia Ingriselli, a long-time Costa resident and specialist in SEO and generative Artificial Intelligence (AI).

Sonia explained that, contrary to popular belief, Chat GPT doesn't automatically produce what you want; you must provide specific instructions to train it to do the task, a process that can be time-consuming. 

She also emphasised that ChatGPT-created content currently has no empathy, sympathy or real humour, making it easy to distinguish AI-written copy from human writing. As a result, Sonia reassured Costa Press Club members that there's no need to worry about being replaced by AI-generated copy, photos or social media content. "The tide has turned since ChatGPT first arrived," she said, "and journalists now have an opportunity to differentiate themselves by offering authentic content, with the added value of AI help."

Sonia also touched on the other side of generative AI, that 20 per cent she calls "scary" because it lies or omits facts. However, she emphasised that AI is here to stay, urging attendees to become early adopters of AI to retrain, learn new skills and watch its progress.

Her book, “Automate to Elevate”, explores how businesses can use AI, particularly its poster child, ChatGPT, to their advantage. According to Sonia, the book is written by a human for humans, although she did admit to some AI help with the title. 

After the talk, Costa Press Club members and guests enjoyed a delicious three-course meal with excellent house wines in La Sierra's spacious venue, with stunning views over the golf course and Mijas valley. 

Sonia is offering members the opportunity of purchasing her book at a special price. Click here for more details.

Photos by Karl Smallman 

AI specialist Sonia Ingriselli with Neil Hesketh, acting president of the Costa Press Club.

 

 

The midsummer meeting of the Costa Press Club was held in the attractive surroundings of LaKala Beach restaurant in La Cala de Mijas. It was an “Open Mic” event for members who wanted to grab centre stage for a few minutes and tell everyone about their latest projects or whatever was close to their hearts.

Before the dinner and speeches, however, Neil Hesketh took the microphone to deliver a moving and personal tribute to the club’s late president, Jesper Sander Pedersen, who died in May after a long spell in hospital. Now acting president until the committee can be reconstituted, Neil recalled that Jesper had been involved in the initial preparations for the event before he became ill, and had always particularly enjoyed the club’s midsummer parties. 

He also recounted how the last time he had talked to Jesper was at a chance encounter in Málaga when they briefly touched on a topic of interest to them both, and agreed to continue the discussion at a later date – leading Neil to end his tribute with the reflection that one should always “have that conversation”, and not leave it until it is too late.

The event then got under way, with a truly delicious meal prepared by LaKala Beach chef Michael Da Costa, and Open Mic talks on various themes, from a presentation by Wendy Cowham of The Costa Connection magazine (available now from an outlet near you, and at www.costaconnection.online) to an account by Joan Fallon of progress on her latest book, a historical novel involving “love, politics, suspense and injustice” and called “The Winds of Change” (out soon).

Chris Chaplow entertained members with his contribution, entitled “Clickbait – the curse or the scourge of the modern web?” Clickbait, he mused, had been described as “a headline that intentionally over-promises and under-delivers”, such as a recently seen one which lured readers to click on a link that promised to “reveal the trick” of shopping in Mercadona without paying for a plastic bag – and which, after a long article interspersed with ads and videos, recommended finding an empty cardboard box near the milk shelf.

Georgina Oliver also amused the gathering with what she called a “self plug” about what it takes to be a “tricultural journalist”. Describing herself as a Franco-Brit Malagueña with a red-hot passion for an “Andalucian beau” she met when she was 17, and also for newspapers, she illustrated her talk about her career, delivered in true-to-character trilingual fashion, by fishing out of her handbag a two-pin Spanish plug.

To round off the evening, a prize for the best summer party look was awarded jointly to Louise Cook Edwards and Gary Edwards, who were suitably attired for a media event in matching newsprint-themed outfits.

Text by Liz Parry

Photos by Costa Press Club

This year's Solheim Cup 2023 will be the biggest golfing event on the Costa del Sol since the 1997 Ryder Cup, and event organiser Alicia Garrido joined members of the Costa Press Club to talk to them about what goes on behind the scenes in the run-up to such a tournament, and the years of work entailed in bringing it to Spain. The setting for the gathering was the Andalucía Lab.

Media professionals at the meeting who might have been expecting a standard speech about preparations for a sporting event were treated to an impassioned and entertaining account of the challenges faced by Alicia’s organisation (Deporte and Business), her determination in the face of three failed attempts to bring the Solheim Cup to the Costa del Sol, the bias of sponsors towards men’s sporting events, and how she had to resort to fund-raising from her own home during the pandemic.

She also talked about her own background and her pride in father Antonio Garrido’s sporting achievements, which include playing in the first-ever Ryder Cup to involve players from continental Europe, in 1979. She went on to stress the huge economic impact that hosting the event will have on the Costa del Sol. 

Tickets to the tournament are selling fast, with only 20 per cent going to buyers in Spain, and a large increase in American visitors already being seen. As an aside, Alicia pointed out that women’s golf in general has the advantage of attracting whole families to the area, with a consequent increase in spending outside the golf clubs, whereas men are more likely to travel with groups of other male golfers.

Costa Press Club members and guests then adjourned to continue the discussion over drinks and tapas provided by the Delicias Gourmet Group, one of Marbella’s best-known names for high-quality delicatessen products.

The Andalucía Lab is a centre under the auspices of the Junta de Andalucía which offers tourism and technology innovation services, including personalised consultations for business professionals in the tourism sector.

The Solheim Cup is scheduled to take place at Finca Cortesín from 22 to 24 September, with the Ping Junior Solheim Cup beforehand at La Zagaleta on the 18th and 19th. 

Text by Liz Parry

Photos by Karl Smallman

The February meeting of the Costa Press Club took place at Verum, El Asador de Málaga – a fine dining restaurant which made a suitable backdrop for the talk which preceded an excellent meal.

The speaker for the occasion, introduced by CPC board member Joanna Styles, was Pilar Candil from Lima Comunicación, and her subject was “The challenges of PR for the world's best chefs”. Pilar works with several of Spain’s top chefs, including Diego Gallegos (Sollo in Fuengirola) and José Carlos García (JCG Restaurante in Málaga).

She explained how she works closely with clients, through regular meetings and discussions of their future plans, to promote them to potential diners. Pilar’s top advice to chefs, some of whom run their own social media accounts, is to be genuine, and not pretend to be something they aren’t. 

Press Club members also heard details of how Michelin stars are awarded, with Pilar stressing that the stars are given to restaurants, not to the chefs who are behind them. (Several members expressed an interest in joining the Michelin team of anonymous inspectors, but sadly didn’t meet the criteria!)

The multi award-winning Restaurante Verum, El Asador de Málaga, whose slogan is “The Temple of Meat” is sister to the Mar de Verum restaurant, also in the Cerrado de Calderón district of the city, which specialises in fish and seafood.

Text: Liz Parry

Pictured (from left): Neil Hesketh (CPC vice president), Ángel Pardo and Pilar Candil (Lima Comunicación), Joanna Styles (CPC secretary)

The club’s annual general meeting was held on 23 January at Restaurante Vegetalia in Los Boliches (Fuengirola).

Photos by Karl Smallman

An event organised this month by the Costa Press Club and hosted by Mijas Town Hall in La Cala de Mijas was highlighted by the first public showing on the Costa del Sol of a “lost” 1981 film. Entitled "El Pueblo", the film was rescued from celluloid archives by Antonio Javier González, a social and cultural researcher at the University of Cadiz. It was commissioned by the New Zealand government for use in junior schools, to show pupils how people lived in other countries, and until recently it had not been seen in Spain – even by the villagers in Villaluenga del Rosario who featured in it.

"El Pueblo" shows scenes of daily life in a rural area of Andalucía untouched by tourism, at a time of great political change in Spain. One of the scenes shows villagers casting their votes in a referendum to approve Andalucía's first “Statutes” as an autonomous region, while another shows them filling containers with water from the village fountain.

After showing "El Pueblo", which was made by an Australian film production company, González discussed the original making of it, and the research which brought it to light again, with Neil Hesketh, vice president of the Costa Press Club. He also gave some fascinating insights into the effect of bringing one of the original film directors back to the village in 2019, to show it for the first time to the villagers of today.

CPC members and their guests then adjourned to the nearby Johnny's Bar & Grill, where discussion of the film and of how Spain has changed in the past 40 years continued over dinner.

The film can be viewed on YouTube here.

Photos by KARL SMALLMAN

Report by LIZ PARRY

The Costa Press Club celebrated its 20th anniversary with a gala dinner at the Play Mijas Restaurant. 

The event, with live music provided by Rocío Starry and a raffle with great prizes donated by local companies and organisations, was a tribute to the diversity of foreign communities on the Costa del Sol and the media organisations that serve them. 

Among the guests were Elena Blanco, president of the Asociación de la Prensa de Málaga (APM), and staff from the faculty of journalism at Málaga University.  Jesper Sander Pedersen, president of the Costa Press Club, spoke after the dinner about the history of the club, whose members

represent all the foreign-language media on the coast, and thanked all those who had contributed to the club over the years and all who had made the anniversary event so successful.

Photos by Karl Smallman

Raffle prizes were generously donated by the following:

• Nikki Beach
• Gómez & Molina Joyeros
• InSpain
• Casa Rural – Serranía de Ronda
• Puente Romano
• Visual Spain 360
• Visual Spain 360
• The Bobby Bear
• Helle Hollis
• El Corte Inglés
• Vegetalia
• Joan Fallon
• Patrick Meehan
• Georgina Oliver
• Costa Women

The Costa Press Club met in the attractive setting of Venta El Jinete near La Cala de Mijas for a midsummer party. An “Open Mic” session allowed participants to tell fellow members, and guests, about their latest projects or interests – or anything else they were keen to share. Several members took advantage to address the group, which made for an interesting and fun set of mini-talks. The diverse subjects included “Dr Quien”, “Cudeca: Maintaining a Legacy”, “First Aid – Save a Life”, “A Bit of Fun with Palabras”, “Semana de Cine Alemán en Málaga” and “Mr and Mrs Nobody”.

The next Costa Press Club meeting will be the 20th anniversary celebration in September (date and venue to be confirmed).

Photo by Karl Smallman: Patrick Meehan talks about his new creation, “Dr Quién”

The Costa Press Club met at the end of April for a long-anticipated “chocolate and pizza” event. The meeting, which had been postponed more than once because of COVID restrictions, started in the Mayan Monkey Mijas workshop, where members were first supplied with all the necessary ingredients and instructions to make and decorate their own personalised chocolate bars, and then given a guided tour of the factory with some fascinating insights into the whole process of making chocolate, from cacao bean to finished product.

A key word at the factory is sustainability, and Costa Press Club members were particularly interested to hear how every ingredient is not only natural but is ethically sourced, enabling Mayan Monkey Mijas to be the only chocolate factory in Spain to be recognised by the NGO “Slave Free Chocolate”.

After a lively question and answer session and an inspection of the printing press where the company prints its own packaging and labels, the group then moved on to Restaurante La Piedra for pizza and salad, followed of course by freshly made chocolate bars.

The Mayan Monkey Mijas Chocolate Factory & Happiness Lab is open seven days a week and offers workshops, tours, school visits and events. For information and reservations: www.mayanmonkey.es 

Text: Liz Parry

Photos: Neil Hesketh

The December meeting of the Costa Press Club took the form of a festive Christmas dinner, meticulously planned by the president Jesper Sander Pedersen in the spacious and airy surroundings of the Club Danés. 

The Danish theme continued with a menu including herring, roast pork with red cabbage, and rice a lamande, and members were also introduced to the ritual of drinking snaps with the meal. This was followed by the distribution of Secret Santa gifts and a Danish-themed Christmas quiz, won by Mogens Fischer and Neil Hesketh.

Photo by Karl Smallman: quiz winners Mogens Fischer (left) and Neil Hesketh (right) with club president Jesper Sander Pedersen

The guest speaker at the November meeting of the Costa Press Club was award-winning hotel and travel photographer Michelle Chaplow, who spoke on the theme of “Adapting”.  Michelle shared her experiences of overcoming challenges during the COVID pandemic, showing how she had to adapt her hotel photography to various health protocols and her images to new narratives. She also explained how she had used the lockdown to master skills such as the art of remote portrait photography, and to pioneer the use of NFT digital certificates in her artwork, which has already been selected for international shows.

The event was held at Río Real Golf and was followed by an excellent dinner in the clubhouse.

Photo by Karl Smallman

Michelle Chaplow with CPC president Jesper Sander Pedersen

The September meeting of the Costa Press Club, featuring the theme “Adapting”, was held at the Hotel Ilunion Hacienda de Mijas, which has undergone a transformation and offered members an ideal outdoor space for both the talk and the dinner which followed.

In keeping with the evening’s theme, hotel director Lucas Barreta gave a brief talk about the concept of the Ilunion brand, which is a business branch of the ONCE organisation in Spain, and part of its social enterprise work. The organisation’s mission is to prioritise the economic, social and sustainable integration of people with disabilities. 

His introductory explanation was followed by the main speaker of the evening, Stine Mynster, director of communications for Denmark-based Sprout World, who detailed some of the challenges faced by her multinational team during the pandemic, and showed how the company had been able to continue promoting and selling its sustainable and recyclable products despite the difficulties. 

This led to a debate during which members commented on their own experiences of remote working and how they had adapted. An excellent meal finished the evening in style, with everyone clearly pleased to be meeting again face to face.

The next Costa Press Club meeting will continue with the theme of “Adapting”. 

Main photo: Jesper Sander Pederson, president of the Costa Press Club; Stine Mynster, Lucas Baretta and Neil Hesketh, second vice president of the Costa Press Club.

 Photos by Karl Smallman

In July the Costa Press Club held its first meeting since pre-pandemic days – or, as president Jesper Sander Pedersen put it in his welcoming speech, the first for precisely 519 days. The meeting was held at Finca Naundrup in Calahonda: a central point for members coming from both ends of the Costa del Sol as well as points inland.

To mark the occasion, dinner was followed by brief talks on the subject of their choice from several members and guests. Mijas town councillor Bill Anderson raised the issue of the integration of foreign residents in local life, leading to an interesting debate on what it takes for a foreigner to feel like a local and, conversely, how foreigners might come to be perceived as locals by their Spanish neighbours.

Nicole King, who worked in the past for an optics company, made an impassioned plea on behalf of children everywhere, entitled “Having a vision”, and vowed to reveal and fight against some of the malpractices she had become aware of.

The club president contributed a talk called “Fighting the fictional beauty”, citing a newly passed law in Norway requiring influencers to label re-touched photos on social media, which led to an animated debate, particularly among the professional photographers present at the meeting.

The open mic session was brought to a close by Anette Skou, former head of the Mijas Foreign Residents’ Department. Anette, who retired in 2020 after 35 years of service, recalled the early days of her pioneering work in Mijas, saying that without the coverage given at the time by publications such as Lookout magazine and SUR in English it would have been practically impossible to reach the people it was intended to help. She expressed gratitude for the support of the foreign media ever since, and was warmly applauded by Costa Press Club members.

Photos by Karl Smallman

Members and guests gathered on 25 February to hear a talk on "The Golden Age of Torremolinos": an audiovisual presentation by guest speakers José Luis Cabrera and Lutz Petry, founders of the website www.torremolinoschic.com

During the event, held at the Taberna Matahambre in Torremolinos, the speakers drew on their collection of photos from the ‘50s, ‘60s and ‘70s to describe the town’s atmosphere at the time, when it gained a reputation as Spain's foremost resort, famous for its multiple discotheques and wild nightlife as well as the presence of foreign tourists, including the first bathers to don bikinis in a country still ruled by Franco.

Photos by Sally Harrison

During the club’s Christmas party at Miraflores Golf Club, members and guests were entertained by a communications quiz devised by president Jesper Sander Pedersen. The winners, who each took home a bottle of La Ola del Melillero'courtesy of Bodegas Victoria Ordóñez, were Sur in English editor Rachel Haynes and Marbella Now TV presenter Nicole King. The dinner and quiz were followed by the always-popular Secret Santa raffle.

Photos by Sally Harrison

At the November meeting in Málaga, club committee member Sally Harrison regaled members and guests with fascinating tales of her long and varied career in the media, on television and radio, on the West End stage, on screen as an actress – and even as a professional ice skater.

Photo courtesy of Sur in English

The September meeting in Marbella featured talks by two writers with a particular interest in Puerto Banús: one factual and the other fictional. Journalist Jorge Lemos, author of “Puerto Banús: historia de un ambicioso proyecto”, described the history of Marbella’s iconic marina; while writer and restaurateur-turned-author Garry Waite talked about his crime novel, “The Warm War”, set on the Costa del Sol in the 1990s.

Photo by Karl Smallman

The Costa Press Club held its June meeting in Málaga city, with a visit to one of its top tourist attractions, the English Cemetery, followed by a meal at one of its newest restaurants, the Hard Rock Café. At the cemetery members were given a guided tour and learned all about plans to attract yet more international visitors in the future, as well as the current options available for the interment of ashes, either in the vertical garden or in traditional graves in the burial ground. From the beautiful and historic peace of the cemetery the group moved on to Muelle Uno for a high energy rock’n’roll-themed dinner in very different surroundings.

Text: Liz Parry

Photo: Karl Smallman

The April meeting of the Costa Press Club featured an interesting round table talk about investigative journalism, entitled "Is investigative journalism a dying dinosaur?" At a time when anyone with a smartphone  can instantly publish their version of "news" to the world, what is the future for professionals trained to sift information and contrast sources? This was the topic discussed by local journalists Agustín Rivero, Málaga correspondent for El Confidencial, Damián Ruíz Fájula, freelance journalist (former correspondent for El Mundo) and Mats Björkman, chief editor of Sydkusten, in a discussion led by the Costa Press Club president, Jesper Sander Pedersen. The panellists agreed that professional investigative journalism is essential and must be fostered, to avoid political censorship or the pressure of big businesses. 

Agustín Rivera also underlined the obligation of professionals to avoid falling into the trap of merely reporting the contents of a press release or quoting politicians. "We must always dig a bit deeper,” he said. Mats Björkman spoke of the recent trend in Spain towards more independent media, funded by subscribers or systems like crowdfunding rather than advertising. Dutch journalist Elsa Beckman also spoke from the floor about the danger of public opinion being polarised by un-contrasted opinions and "reports" on social media. The consensus was that there will always be a role for the professional media as an impartial watchdog, and to ensure the accountability of decision-makers.

The event, which was hosted by the Foreigners' Department at Mijas Town Hall in La Cala, was followed by dinner at the Restaurante El Torreón.

Text: Liz Parry

Photo: Karl Smallman

Pictured: Anette Skou, Katja Thirion, Jesper Sander Pedersen, Mats Björkman, Agustín Rivera Hernández and Damián Ruiz Fájula

The February meeting of the Costa Press club brought members together in Malaga to hear a talk by Hans Kuitert on why journalists who cover international terrorism and conflict are not heroes. As a former staff correspondent in locations such as Islamabad, Kabul, Cairo and Jerusalem, Kuitert was able to talk from first hand experience, basing his talk on the premise that a journalist's mission is to provide factual and accurate reports in the midst of war or violent encounters while navigating the pitfalls of the most thrilling, perilous and complicated assignments a journalist can face.  Deploring the fact that reporters have sometimes become the focus of attention, figuring in news reports as heroes on the front line, Kuitert pointed out that this puts their colleagues in unnecessary danger and impedes their work.

The club's annual general meeting was held on Wednesday 16 January in Fuengirola, at the Vegetalia Restaurant. Business dealt with by the 19 members present included formal approval of the 2018 accounts and activities report, and the 2019 budget and proposed events schedule for this year.

The meeting was followed by an extraordinary general meeting to elect a new committee for the next three years. No alternative list was presented for the election, and the current committee was reelected for another three-year term: president, Jesper Sander Pedersen; vice presidents Liz Parry and Neil Hesketh; secretary, Joanna Styles; treasurer, Peter Leonard; and Sally Harrison and Stefania van Lieshout.

(Photo credits: Karl Smallman)

The Costa Press Club held its Christmas party at Miraflores Golf restaurant in Riviera del Sol (Mijas Costa), where members and guests were able to choose between a feast of turkey with all the trimmings and Christmas pudding, or less traditional but equally delicious options. Entertainment was provided by club president Jesper Sander Pederson, who organised Secret Santa gifts for everyone and a topical Christmas quiz, convincingly won by Neil Hesketh and Mugge Fischer. The quiz prizes were tickets to Big M concerts in 2019, kindly donated by club members Martyn and Nessie Wood.

Costa Press Club’s Unicaja Communicator awards were presented during a gala event at Tamisa Golf Hotel in Mijas. The awards, each consisting of €300 and a trophy, went to Peter Edgerton, Stefania van Lieshout, Georgina Oliver and Mark Nayler.

Master of ceremonies Neil Hesketh introduced the event, mentioning innovations this year which included different categories for the awards, changes made to allow for work to be submitted in languages other than English, and sponsorship by Unicaja. He also thanked Artenovum for designing and donating the trophies. 

On behalf of Unicaja Paco Reguera, area director in Fuengirola, spoke of his pride at being able to participate in the event and said that the international community "deserves all our support".

The awards were then presented to the winners by Paco Reguera; Eva María Ramada, manager of Unicaja branch 3066; Regina Gómez, from the bank's branch number 3038; and Costa Press Club president Jesper Sander Pedersen.

A "Young Communicator" award of €150 was won by Danny Al-Khafaji, who is now studying at King's College London,

Photos by Karl Smallman

Some 20 members and guests of the Costa Press Club were treated to a guided tour and beer tasting at Cervezas Victoria, Málaga’s oldest beer manufacturer. The 90-minute visit provided a fascinating insight into Cervezas Victoria’s past and present and how they brew beer. The Costa Press Club sampled two beers, the classic Cervezas Victoria lager and a new “black” beer, due to be sold commercially in the near future. 

The tour took place at the ultra-modern installations on Avenida de Velázquez at the factory built in September 2017 and awarded the Málaga Architecture Prize 2018. After a welcome by the team, Pedro walked the Costa Press Club through the brewing procedure by explaining the process and showing the different machinery used at each step. 

He also recounted Cervezas Victoria’s history since 1928 when the brewery was founded in El Perchel by the Franquelo family with machinery from Germany and the first master brewer Henrich Dietz. Spanning 90 years, Cervezas Victoria’s past includes Civil War anecdotes, big expansion and a move to Murcia before the company returned to Málaga in 2017. The Costa Press Club saw memorabilia including the first printed advert with the beer’s famous slogan “Malagueña y exquisita” (from Málaga and exquisite) and the original tiled logo of a German wiping his brow as he keeps cool in the Málaga heat thanks to a glass of Victoria beer. 

The group then moved onto the tasting of two beers – the company’s signature lager and a new “black” beer. Pedro explained how to class the colour, bouquet and taste of the beer and the Costa Press Club tasted the clear cereal notes in both types, neither of which is especially bitter to suit the Spanish market. The black version of Cervezas Victoria, as yet to go on the market, went down well (literally!). 

The visit finished with a master class in drawing beer, a process that involves five steps to produce the perfect glass of beer. Member Helen O’Leary and guest Jose María Sánchez Alfonso received certificates of distinction for their new-found skills as beer pullers. 

The visit then moved to Trattoria Mamma Franca where Costa Press Club members and guests enjoyed pizza and pasta, washed down of course with Cerveza Victoria. 

Text by Joanna Styles; photos by Karl Smallman

Always a relaxed summery event, this year’s June meeting provided a forum for members and guests to share their latest interests and ideas. Several took advantage of the Open Mic format to speak on a variety of entertaining subjects, ranging from a recently published novel and an award-winning guide to Málaga to new real estate projects on the Coast, the Marbella Cancer Support Group and  innovations in the Málage sweet wine brand. The event was held by popular request at the El Capricho restaurant in Calahonda.

The April meeting of the Costa Press Club took the form of a guided tour of Estepona led by the town's head of tourism strategy, Aleksandra Broch, followed by drinks and tapas at the Casa del Rey restaurant. Members travelled from Málaga in the east to Los Barrios in the west to see for themselves the transformation brought about in the historic centre of Estepona by a beautification project which has involved adorning dull walls with murals, planting as many as one million flowers, sponsoring trees planted by local children, dozens of streets provided with colourful hanging flowerpots and considerable pedestrianisation. The tour started at the Orchidarium and ended at the restaurant, where members were addressed by the mayor, José María García Urbano, before enjoying a selection of original "pinchos".

Main Photo: Karl Smallman

Other Photos: Herta Fritz

Thirty members of the Costa Press Club and invited guests attended the association's February meeting at Restaurante El Gusto in La Cala de Mijas.

The speaker was Juan Antonio O'Donnell Gallego, honorary chief inspector of the National Police Force (Policía Nacional) and former chief of the press office in Málaga, who gave an interesting talk about the daily work of media relations officers and the procedure for keeping the media informed about cases considered to be of public interest.

Now retired, the guest speaker shared some of his personal experiences and impressions, based on over 40 years of service. He put the part played by communications into context, and explained in detail the sort of work undertaken by press officers, saying that in addition to reporting on current cases they actively participate in the preventive work done by the police.

The journalists present at the meeting showed particular interest in the role of social media in present-day policing, and in restrictions to the publication of images of police officers on active service.

(Photos: Sally Harrison and Herta Fritz)

Costa Press Club held its AGM at the Vegetalia restaurant in Fuengirola, with president Jesper Sander Pedersen reporting increased attendance at the events organised for members and detailing a cooperation agreement recently signed with the Asociación de la Prensa de Málaga. He also reported a surge in new memberships over the past year, proof of the increasing relevance of the international media on the Costa del Sol.

(Photo: Sally Harrison)

Over 20 members and guests enjoyed a pleasant Christmas dinner on Thursday 14 December at Da Bruno restaurant in Mijas. After a welcome glass of Prosecco, excellent three-course dinner and live music from a musicals tribute group performing at the restaurant, Secret Santa gifts were shared around and informal pairs were formed for a festive quiz that seriously tested the grey cells.

Members and guest speakers discussed their concerns about vulnerable and older foreign residents on the Costa del Sur, during the club’s November meeting-dinner at Ban Thai restaurant in Marbella. They also asked the question: What role can the media play in highlighting this growing challenge and stimulating more support?

The pre-dinner informal panel discussion was led by club vice president Neil Hesketh, who talked about a recent British Consulate project he had worked on; Annette Skou, from Mijas Foreign Residents Department; Ali Meehan, actively involved in Cudeca and other groups including Costa Women; and Marion Winter, a long-standing volunteer translator at the Costa del Sol Hospital and currently setting up a cancer support group.

Annette Skou said the “single most important thing” was to encourage people to register on the municipal “padrón”, while other speakers spoke about the importance of volunteering.

(Photos: Liz Parry and Herta Fritz)

In their first meeting after the summer break, members of the Costa Press Club enjoyed a presentation of the “Sabor a Málaga” brand, which is promoted by the Diputación Provincial, followed by a tasting session.

Jacobo Florido Gómez, the provincial government's delegate in charge of economic and production development, explained the work carried out both in Spain and abroad to promote Málaga produce and gastronomy and answered the many questions posed by the international media.

Representatives of Bodega Cortijo de la Fuente and Aceites Molisur then provided an olive oil and wine tasting experience.

The meeting was held in the historic La Térmica building in Málaga and was followed by networking and further sampling of local gastronomy at the Vincci Málaga hotel.

Over 50 members and guests from the media industry attended Costa Press Club’s 15th anniversary gala dinner at Avanto in La Cala de Mijas in June.

The evening coincided with the presentation of the annual Communicator Awards, recognising excellence in writing and production. This year there was an overall winner and, for the first time, a Young Communicator of the Year.

The overall winner was Abby Roule for her blog, www.uncoveringandalucia.com. An award judge said of her work, “Wonderful quirky detail adds to the already good writing.”

The winner of the first-ever Young Communicator of the Year award, honouring upcoming journalistic talent on the Coast, was 16-year-old Andrea Henderson De La Fuente, a pupil at Swans School in Marbella. As well as editing the school magazine and writing, Andrea has produced films and photography. An award judge said of her work, “Andrea is a very talented young writer and her range of work is amazing.”

The club was pleased to welcome author and journalist Tim Parfitt as guest speaker. Tim is author of the book “A Load of Bull”, about his work setting up the Spanish edition of Vogue. He entertained guests with a witty account of his years in Madrid.

Speaking after the event, the president of the Costa Press Club, Jesper Sander Pedersen, said: “This is an important milestone for the Costa Press Club. For 15 years we have been a vibrant association supporting journalists, broadcasters and those in media on the Coast. The gala dinner has been a perfect way to celebrate it. Congratulations to the winners of this year’s Communicator Awards.”

Photos: Sally Harrison

Costa Press Club members were given a first-hand insight in April 2017 into ambitious town hall plans to revitalise Torremolinos. The Costa del Sol’s pioneering tourist destination has suffered from a deteriorating image and infrastructure over the past decade, prompting the mayor José Ortiz and his council team to launch a series of initiatives aimed at reversing its decline, after years of stagnation, and establishing a more dynamic and modernised global brand.

Following the mayor's introduction at Matahambre restaurant in the centre of the town, members and guests enjoyed  an informative guided tour of some of the areas to be rejuvenated.  During the walk members visited the old town hall premises, which are to be converted into a gourmet market; the Torre Pimentel tower (aka the Torre de los Molinos), which gave its name to the municipality and is due to be opened soon for visits by residents and tourists; and an open-air exhibition, “Camino del Agua”, which highlights the importance of water, natural springs and mills in the history of Torremolinos.

After the walk, tapas were served at Matahambre restaurant.

Group Photos: Courtesy of Torremolinos Town Hall

Photos mayor and club president; and Torre Pimentel: Herta Fritz

Last Thursday 9 February the Costa Press Club discovered what it was like living in Malaga during the Second Republic and Spanish Civil War. At a well-attended event held in Tenencia de Alcaldía en La Cala de Mijas, members of the Club and the general public watched the documentary “I was there” and had the opportunity to ask questions about the era.

After the documentary, the meeting then adjourned to El Gusto Restaurant in La Cala de Mijas where Costa Press Club members and guests enjoyed a three-course meal and drinks.

(Photo credits: Ayto de Mijas)

The Costa Press Club’s annual general meeting was held on Thursday 12 January 2017 at the La Rozuela restaurant in Fuengirola.

(Photos: Herta Fritz)

Twenty members and guests enjoyed a thoroughly entertaining Christmas party at the La Rozuela restaurant in Los Pacos (Fuengirola). This year the celebrations (on Thursday 1 December) had more of a Spanish feel, with a “President’s Quiz” on local Christmas traditions and an appetising selection of classic tapas and dishes, as well as a more “international” Christmas pudding and a fun raffle in which everyone received a gift.

(Photos: Herta Fritz)

Twenty Costa Press Club members and selected guests had the pleasure of attending a special guided tour of several departments with limited access for ordinary passengers at the Málaga-Costa del Sol international airport.

The tour was conducted by airport director Salvador Merino Moíne and press department coordinator Josefa Villalobos. During the two and a half hour visit, they provided the group with a rare insight into the complex and demanding operations of a large airport such as Málaga, which handles more than 15 million passengers a year.

They noted that the airport is like a huge puzzle with thousands of pieces. Each of them has to fit perfectly together and, if they don’t at any stage, the relevant department is able to intervene immediately and solve any problems quickly.

The airport director and press officer answered a series of questions about such issues as airport security measures, constant monitoring of the airport areas using video surveillance, and rigid control of luggage passing through the airport.

The press club was also given access to the ground control surveillance department, as well as the department with responsibility for controlling and distributing aircraft from landing until departure. Both departments are essential to ensure airport security, and practical and flexible operations for the benefit of both passengers and airline companies.

At the end of the tour, Josefa Villalobos confirmed that she and the airport director would be pleased to arrange a similar visit for press club members who were unable to attend on this occasion.

Photos below courtesy of GuidetoMalaga

Members and guests at the Costa Press Club’s September meeting in Marbella enjoyed a well-informed discussion about legal issues facing journalists and other content producers in Spain.

Guest speaker Alex Radford, a prominent Costa del Sol-based lawyer from My Lawyer in Spain, talked about how Spanish law differs from that applying in members’ home countries, gave an informative and entertaining insight into the peculiarities of Spanish law, and touched on the complex subject of libel and slander (“injuria” and “calumnia” in Spanish).

Costa Press Club vice president Neil Hesketh presided over the meeting in the absence of the president, and David Searl, a longstanding club member and author of the authoritative “You and the Law in Spain” chaired the post-speech questions and answers session.

Later, those present savoured an excellent Thai meal at the restaurant venue where the meeting was held, Ban Thai on the Marbella promenade.

History in the Making

In one room on a table rests the old typewriter Gerald Brenan used to write “South from Granada”. In another, the windows face out towards Málaga city, where his American novelist wife Gamel Woolsey watched bombs falling on Málaga in 1937 during the Civil War and recounted her experiences in “Málaga Burning” (Antonio Banderas bought the screen rights but so far has been unable to bring the story to film).

Today, the house is a cultural centre, containing books, photos and other memorabilia from the renowned Hispanist’s time living in Churriana (1935 to 1969), when he and Gamel entertained such illustrious guests as Virginia Woolf and Ernest Hemingway.

Members of the Costa Press Club enjoyed a private tour of the Gerald Brenan House and Centre in Churriana as part of their June meeting, including a talk by the director, Silvia Grijalba, about its enthralling history. Later the group adjourned to the nearby Plaza Mayor for a Brazilian-style feast at the La Posada de Brasil restaurant which, interestingly, used to be La Posada de Antonio (part-owned by Banderas).

(Photos: Herta Fritz and Costa Press Club)

The Costa Press Club held a gala dinner on 19 May to announce the winners of the 2015 Communicator Award (Jack Nusbaum Memorial). Members and special guests attended the official presentation at the Vegetalia restaurant in Los Boliches (Fuengirola).

The two winners, Joanna Styles and Marianne Elizabeth, each received their award (a silver plate engraved with their names) to warm applause from those present.

Marianne Elizabeth won the Communicator Award 2015 for www.eastofmalaga.net, a dynamic website with updated information about villages on the eastern side of Málaga province.

Joanna Styles received recognition for her travel guide and associated apps www.guidetomalaga.com, an essential, practical tool for anyone who wants to enjoy a stay in the provincial capital and take part in the many cultural and gastronomic experiences.

During his speech announcing the winners, Costa Press Club president Jesper Sander Pedersen recalled the key instigator behind the creation of the Communicator Award, the late Jack Nusbaum. From 2006, when he helped establish the award, until his death in 2015 he was strongly and passionately involved in the project, as a member of the club’s executive committee.

Established by the Costa Press Club in 2006, the Communicator Award honours excellence in journalism on the Costa del Sol. The award is open to all professionals, not just members, with strong links to the Costa del Sol.

The award is made annually. The nomination process for 2016 will be published towards the end of 2016. For more details and past winners see here.

This month's meeting returned to the popular Ban Thai in Marbella centre. Steve Cameron of Advent Communication, a member of the club and also an authorised 'Google Partner', took members through latest innovations from Google which are of interest to writers and also how its search engine works. Being a 'Google Partner' means Google has recognised his high level of experience and knowledge of Google. Steve certainly had the inside story on the global search engine's progress and was able to give some great insights to help members.

The Costa Press Club met for their monthly meeting at Vinoteca Los Patios de Beatas in Malaga. Pepita Bos from Dots 'n Ink Marketing gave an interesting talk on how to promote your personal brand before members were treated to an olive oil tasting by the owner of Los Patios, Julián Sanjuan. Members then enjoyed a 4-course meal together with complimentary cava with live jazz in the background.

Photos courtesy of Herta Fritz

Photos courtesy of Herta Fritz

Lynn Mitchell, Business Development Director, Costa del Sol Tourism Board
“After a record year for Costa del Sol Tourism, Lynn talked to us about an update on the role and work of the new look tourism board”.

Photos courtesy of Herta Fritz

Twenty-five members of the Costa Press Club and selected guests attended a successful and fulfilling event in the heart of Málaga on Wednesday 16 September.
A well-informed guide from the CAC (Centro de Arte Contemporáneo) art museum led a walking tour in the city’s “Soho district”, showing more than 50 wall paintings, graffiti drawings and illustrations, each of them with the author’s personal touch and style. Many of these impressive art works make potent and poignant references to current issues.
Among the invited guests were the Danish honorary consul in Málaga, lawyer Marisa Moreno Castillo, and consulate secretary Susan Kirstein, both of whom work in this same district. Like everybody else taking part in the event, they were able to discover and enjoy the numerous street art works that in recent years have converted the district into one of the most interesting areas of Málaga.
This fascinating tour ended with an outstanding dinner on the terrace of the Óleo restaurant, adjacent to the CAC museum. A perfect conclusion to an unforgettable event.

Photos courtesy of Herta Fritz and Jesper Sander Pedersen

Photos courtesy of Herta Fritz and Sally Harrison

June Meeting

Hotel Cala de Mijas

Guest speakers:

Social Media – helps & hints, and it’s impact on traditional media & life on the coast

Roundtable with Press Club Members and discussion for all members to take part.
Neil Hesketh, Ali Meehan, Joanna Styles & Else Beekman.

Photos of the Costa Press Club and guests:

Photos courtesy of Herta Fritz

April Meeting

Los Naranjos Golf Club, Nueva Andalucía, Marbella

Guest speakers: Laura López Romero

Department of Communication Science, Malaga University, Spain 

Sur in English - Laura López Romero 

Photos courtesy of Herta Fritz

February Meeting
Los Naranjos Golf Club, Nueva Andalucía, Marbella
Guest speakers: Rebeca Escobar and Jesper Sander Pedersen

Rebeca Escobar and Jesper Sander Pedersen are both working as tour guides in different parts of Spain and – at Los Naranjos Golf Club in Marbella on Wednesday 11th of February – they gave an interesting lecture in English on two-way communication between tour guides and tourists on group travel.
Today's tourists demand answers to many questions on the spot, on both relevant and occasionally irrelevant topics. Tour guides have to be well-informed, but at the same time cautious, before they give an instant answer about the weather forecast, clothing, geography or botany in a particular area, just to name the four most typical subjects queried by tourists.
“We have to analyse the tourists' needs and interests for further information before we go into details on local history, architecture or social conditions, and this provides the basis for a pleasant holiday without too much tension or bad vibrations,” explained Rebeca Escobar, referring to the first period of guests’ stays.
“If we talk too much they become tired of us, and if we tell too little they become disappointed,” added Jesper Sander Pedersen, on the difficult balance between omniscient and ignorant tour guides.
The two speakers complemented each other’s observations with personal experiences about specific cases of two-way communication and the best way to resolve both insignificant and serious problems.
A number of case-stories were highly amusing, even on the verge of being absurd, and demonstrated that it certainly is not boring to work as a tour guide.
The lecture closed with a question and answer session in which those attending asked (among other subjects) about the law applicable to local guides and companion guides, and the limited opportunities to take the exam and become an official local guide.
After the lecture, members and guests enjoyed a superb meal in the Los Naranjos Golf Club restaurant.

Photos courtesy of Herta Fritz