Spanish journalist and media executive Alfonso Nasarre Goicoechea has died in Madrid at the age of 67, regional public broadcaster Onda Madrid confirmed on Tuesday.
Nasarre had directed Onda Madrid since August 2021, capping a career of more than four decades that combined parliamentary reporting, government communication strategy, and the leadership of major national broadcast networks. Onda Madrid is the regional public radio station serving the Community of Madrid.
Born in Madrid in 1958, Nasarre earned a degree from the Complutense University of Madrid before beginning his journalism career at Cadena COPE, a major Spanish commercial radio network. During his initial tenure at COPE, he worked as a reporter, political chronicler, and parliamentary correspondent, eventually rising to become chief editor of national news.
Career in government communication
His analytical work led him to enter public service in 1997 under the administration of Prime Minister José María Aznar. Nasarre joined the State Secretariat for Communication as an executive advisor before being appointed General Director of the Information Tracking Office. In 2002, he assumed the role of General Director of National Information for the Spanish government.
Following his work in government, Nasarre returned to Cadena COPE to join its executive leadership. He initially served as Director of Communication and later became Director of Programming and a member of the network management committee.
Leadership at RTVE and bullfighting coverage
In July 2012, Nasarre moved to public broadcaster Radio Televisión Española (RTVE) as Director of Communication and Institutional Relations. RTVE operates Spain's national public television and radio services. In 2013, he was appointed General Director of Radio Nacional de España (RNE), where he managed public radio programming across five seasons until 2018.
During his leadership at RTVE, Nasarre led a decision to lift the ban that public television had maintained on broadcasting live bullfights. As a self-confessed fan and defender of bullfighting, he argued that public interest justified bringing the events back to free-to-air television, returning coverage to the public grid after years of absence.
Final role and industry tributes
In the final years of his professional life, Nasarre combined his leadership of Onda Madrid with an executive role at the Federation of Associations of Radio and Television Professionals of Spain.
His death prompted widespread condolences from media colleagues, political parties, and audiovisual industry executives. Tributes highlighted his contributions to strengthening public media and his loyalty to journalism.
