The name Iñaki Cano has long been synonymous with sports journalism in Spain. His voice is instantly recognized by listeners of Radio MARCA, where he has worked since the station’s inception. Over a quarter century on air, Cano has witnessed many changes in the profession, yet has remained true to his own principles.
His path to journalism was far from obvious. In his youth, he planned to pursue a career in construction while balancing work with playing football and DJing on weekends. However, fate intervened: meeting his future wife, a professional journalist, prompted him to change direction. The desire to be closer to her became the starting point for a new chapter in his life.
The family tradition continues: Cano’s children have also chosen journalism. However, they have faced prejudice and accusations that their success is due to connections. The father emphasizes that his son started from the very bottom, delivering newspapers early in the morning and received no special treatment. In Cano’s opinion, children of well-known journalists have to prove themselves twice as hard.
Over the years, Cano has witnessed the transformation of the media landscape. Whereas debates and disagreements once happened face to face, criticism now often comes anonymously through social media. He notes that he responds to such attacks with irony, but advises young colleagues to always stay true to the facts and not to conform to others’ expectations.
A defining aspect of his career is his principled stance: Cano is unwilling to compromise for personal gain. He acknowledges that refusing to appease others has cost him considerable financial losses, but insists there is no other way to work. If he ever had to sacrifice his independence, he would rather change professions.
Reflecting on confrontations with influential figures such as Jose Maria Garcia, Cano notes that open conflicts were unavoidable. Despite tense relations in the past, there is now mutual respect between them.
Cano has over four decades of experience in the profession. He believes that journalism demands honesty and the courage to stand by your views, even when it is disadvantageous. For him, the goal is not to embellish reality, but to provide the audience with objective information.
Staying true to his beliefs, Iñaki Cano continues to work with the same enthusiasm he had at the beginning of his career. His story stands as an example of how to remain independent amid constant pressure and change.
