Raúl Terol Bolinches, a lecturer and researcher at Campus Gandia (UPV) and an expert in podcasting, has been appointed vice president of the Radio and Sound Section of the European Communication Research and Education Association (ECREA).
The European Communication Research and Education Association (ECREA) is a leading European academic organization focused on communication research and education. Founded in 2005, it has established itself as one of the most influential European associations in the field, bringing together researchers, educators, students, and professionals with a shared interest in advancing communication studies.
ECREA has played a pivotal role in advancing communication research in Europe, serving as a vital platform for the exchange of ideas and academic progress. Its structure fosters international collaboration, and its emphasis on education and research has significantly contributed to the professionalization and academic rigor of communication studies.
Raúl Terol joined ECREA in 2013, when the section was known as Radio Research. He first participated in the association’s London conference, where he met Professor Guy Starkey, the section’s founder and then-president. Since then, he has been actively involved in the section’s conferences, including the 2019 event in Siena, where the section was renamed Radio and Sound.Terol joins the leadership team alongside Professor Emma Heywood from the University of Sheffield (UK), who serves as president, and Marie Fierens from the Free University of Brussels (Belgium), who has assumed the role of second vice president. Terol’s appointment coincides with the departure of Professor Belén Monclús from the Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, a distinguished scholar with a notable track record in radio research.
The current leadership team is already working on organizing the 8th Conference of the section, which will be held in Istanbul in 2025, from September 8 to 10, at Bilgi University.
100 Years of Radio
In recent weeks, the radio industry has celebrated its centennial as a medium of communication. On November 14, 1924, Spain’s first official radio station, EAJ-1 Radio Barcelona, began broadcasting. It later became part of Unión Radio, now known as Cadena SER, one of the country’s most prominent media groups under PRISA ownership. To mark the milestone, Cadena SER organized a series of events, including the International Radio Congress held in Barcelona on November 15–16, and published the book Cadena SER, 100 años de radio: Una mirada (retro)prospectiva desde la Universidad [100 Years of Radio: A (Retro)Prospective View from the University].Researcher Raúl Terol played a key role in the International Radio Congress, serving on its scientific committee and moderating a panel that explored the relationship between radio stations and major tech companies. He also collaborated with professors Luis Miguel Pedrero, Laura Martínez, and Lourdes Moreno to coordinate a book that brings together contributions from 45 academics from various Spanish universities and 18 professionals from Cadena SER. The book, which examines a century of radio history while offering insights into its near future, was unveiled at the congress and will be distributed by Tirant Lo Blanch in the coming weeks.
Research in Radio and Podcasting
Raúl Terol began his teaching career at the Polytechnic University of Valencia (UPV) in 2016, following the completion of his doctoral thesis. His professional background is closely tied to municipal radio, where he held various roles across stations in the La Costera and La Ribera regions of Valencia. Between 2017 and 2021, he hosted a daily radio program on the regional station 99.9 València Ràdio. He currently contributes a weekly opinion column to Ràdio Xàtiva Cadena SER.
Terol’s academic and research efforts have consistently focused on radio, podcasting, and sound studies. His early work explored how technology could enhance the reach of municipal radio messaging. Later, his research expanded to investigate podcasting as an educational tool and as a method for extending audiovisual storytelling through transmedia narratives.
At Campus Gandia (UPV), Terol coordinates the Educational Podcast Analysis, Creation, and Dissemination Team (EICE, for it’s Spanish initials) and serves as the director of the Educast conference, now in its fourth edition.
