7. Zoom

‘It is important to combat fake news to build a fairer society’

Paloma Rodiles Marín is about to finish her bachelor’s degrees in Humanities and Journalism at UPF. She is the founder and CEO of The Hist, a streaming platform for freelance journalists that she likes to describe as an Only Fans for the news industry.

min
 

Name and surnames: Paloma Rodiles Marín
Place and date of birth: Tarragona, 2000
Position: Founder and CEO of The Hist
Education: Humanities and Journalism student at UPF 
Interests: Passionate about the cinema of Scorsese, Kubrick and Carla Simón, animals and Formula 1.

Paloma Rodiles Marín is 23 years old and currently finishing bachelor’s degrees in Humanities and Journalism at UPF. However, her academic work has not prevented her from undertaking her own professional project, which she has thrown herself into heart and soul, namely, The Hist, a streaming initiative for freelance journalists looking to carve out a niche for themselves in the world of digital content creation platforms. 

The Hist is currently one of six projects being incubated in the ‘In Residence’ space at the Tallers Area on the Poblenou campus. The initiative was selected for its transferability, interdisciplinarity and viability, as well as for its ability to interact with other initiatives. 

What is The Hist? How does it innovate journalism? 

The Hist is a streaming platform where freelance journalists create content that is then validated with artificial intelligence and blockchain to prevent the creation of disinformation and fake news. We like to say that it is a sort of Only Fans for journalists, because each communicator has their own space or channel where they can make their own media. They are thus not constrained by any editorial line and are free to work as they see fit. 

We like to say that it is a sort of Only Fans for journalists, because each communicator has their own space or channel where they can make their own media

  • How did you come up with the idea? How did you identify this need?

    • Paloma Rodiles
       

      I got an e-mail from Banco Santander asking for innovative ideas to start an entrepreneurship programme. For some time, I’d been noticing that the number of journalists on Twitch and YouTube was gradually growing. But these spaces also featured a lot of influencers, such as Rubius or Ibai, who monopolized viewers’ attention and prevented those journalists from having the impact they deserved. It occurred to me that maybe they should have another space. From there, I decided to create a streaming platform just for journalists, where they can make their own channel for their own media.

  • The Hist places a lot of emphasis on combating fake news. Why? Is it one of the current dangers of journalism?

    • Absolutely. Today, both Twitter and Instagram – which, according to studies, is where most people communicate and get their news – are full of disinformation. It is important to combat fake news and to prevent its production in order to build a fairer society and so that journalists can do a job much more in keeping with what society needs. 

  • What other challenges do you think the profession will have to face in the next ten years?

    • The biggest problem is undoubtedly adaptation. One of the problems is that the traditional media are not keeping pace with all the changes. Hence, the emergence of a platform like The Hist, to cater to what people really want today. People are switching to Twitch, TikTok, Instagram or Twitter because they are meeting a need that the traditional media are not, and that is where the danger lies. I think we have to get used to these new consumption trends that we are seeing on Twitch, because it is not normal for Ibai to have the impact he is having.

      People are switching to Twitch, TikTok, Instagram or Twitter because they are meeting a need that the traditional media are not, and that is where the danger lies

  • You are still a student on the bachelor’s degree programmes in Humanities and Journalism. How do you combine your education with the project’s development?

    • It’s really tough (she laughs). For two and a half years, I have been juggling two degree programmes, working in corporate communication, because it is what I like the most, and trying to get this project off the ground. In January, I did make the big decision to focus exclusively on The Hist, which is my great passion and calling and which, at the end of the day, is still a company. Otherwise, something like that would never move forward. I wanted it to continue advancing and, ultimately, to finally be able to start invoicing. But that is very complicated. You need a lot of passion and commitment. Otherwise, there is nothing driving you to achieve everything you set out to do. 

      Paloma Rodiles
       

  • At one point, you participated in the Explorer programme for the creation of innovative startups. What did you get out of it?

    • It is not a UPF programme, but it was carried out at the university, and I felt like I was doing it with UPF. Above all, it provided me with all the resources, so I was able to meet all the needs I had when I started the project. You have to remember that innovative projects are really hard at first, because you don’t know where to go; there is very little information. I was lucky to have Rosa and Mar, from the Innovation Unit-UPF Business Shuttle, who offered me expert guidance. Even after I finished the Explorer programme, they stayed with me, helping me with everything, not just UPF programmes, but outside programmes, too. They were the ones who pointed me towards the Tallers Area on the Poblenou Campus, where we are now in residence and quite happy. 

  • What do you think of the support that the university gives students who want to start up innovative projects?

    • I think it is impressive. It is one of the things that sets UPF apart from so many other universities. The Hist is as evolved as it is today thanks to UPF’s support. Still, I think everything we do should be promoted more. A lot of times, people wonder what the residents working in the Tallers Area come up with. Publicizing what we do is something I have not seen at many public universities.

      Paloma Rodiles

  • You are currently ‘incubating’ in the UPF Tallers Area’s ‘In Residence’ space. Why did you apply to this programme? How does it help you develop the project?

    • It is essential to understand that, ultimately, it is a cultural project, in the world of the media, so it affects both culture and society. The nice thing about the Tallers Area is that it is intended for cultural projects. In the world of entrepreneurship, one key unspoken rule is that you have to set goals and a single field of work. So, for one thing, I could not, for example, approach an investment fund specialized in medicine. For another, I spend my day-to-day life here because of my studies. Having the offices on campus is very convenient for me because it makes my work much easier. Plus, I think the mentors here are amazing. One mentor is even helping me secure investments now. Being here also offers us unique opportunities. For example, we could not have participated in the Mobile World Congress 4YFN in any other context.

  • Why is it important to participate in events such as 4YFN?

    • 4YFN is not only a space for networking, but one that can offer a lot of opportunities. In my case, I really had to attend this event, especially since I am looking for investment funds to back the project. Visibility is important to getting more clients, but I think 4YFN is important for setting and meeting certain goals. 

  • What aspects of your journalism training at UPF do you value most?

    • The practicality, the freshness, the open-mindedness, the attitude that you’re ready to take on the world, and the teaching staff. One of the things that I have come to love the most is the teaching staff. With a lot of them, like Laura Pérez Altable or José Óscar, you feel like they are not just teaching you, but teaching you to be a professional. In the end, I think journalism is more than a degree; it’s a profession that is being fed and nurtured every day. 

      Paloma Rodiles

      In the end, I think journalism is more than a degree; it’s a profession that is being fed and nurtured every day.

  • Now you are finishing your degree, what skills would you say a future journalist should have?

    • I think you need to have a whole range of skills. In both the world of journalism and life in general, you need a lot of strength, to be very clever, very bold and brazen, and you need a lot of creativity. 

      In both the world of journalism and life in general, you need a lot of strength, to be very clever, very bold and brazen, and you need a lot of creativity.

Photo gallery

galeria Paloma Rodiles galeria Paloma Rodiles galeria Paloma Rodiles galeria Paloma Rodiles galeria Paloma Rodiles galeria Paloma Rodiles galeria Paloma Rodiles