Yamid Amat
Encyclopedia
José Yamid Amat Ruiz is a Colombia
n journalist
, born 2 December 1941 in Bogotá
. Mr Amat is considered one of the cornerstones of Colombian journalism.
His basic education took place at Colegio Salesiano in Tunja
. He studied at the Airlie Institute in Virginia
, United States
. His journalistic debut was at emisora Monserrate in the 1960s
. He would later join Radiosucesos newscast on RCN Radio
, and the T. V. Sucesos newscast on television. He directed El Bogotano
newspaper —where he was responsible for its infamous main headline published on the 2 January 1974 issue reading Maremoto en Bolivia ("Seaquake in Bolivia
")—, worked for EFE
news agency and was in charge of a column in El Espacio.
In the 1980s he directed Contrapunto T. V., a current affairs
television show, and join Caracol Radio
, becoming its news director until 1990. While at Caracol Radio, he hosted morning news show 6 A. M. — 9 A. M. (known as 6 AM Hoy por Hoy since Caracol Radio was acquired by PRISA
). In late 1980s he presented and directed Caracol TV
's Reportajes Caracol, as well as Los derechos de la gente, produced by Coestrellas.
In 1991 he co-founded the CM&
newscast, broadcast on weeknights on Canal Uno
. He was his director until 1998 and then again since 2002. Amat also created RadioNet, a 24-hour news radio network
, which would be later absorbed by Caracol Radio. Meanwhile, he directed Caracol Noticias. Besides his work at CM&, he keeps a weekly column in El Tiempo newspaper.
Among his merits are:
Colombia
Colombia, officially the Republic of Colombia , is a unitary constitutional republic comprising thirty-two departments. The country is located in northwestern South America, bordered to the east by Venezuela and Brazil; to the south by Ecuador and Peru; to the north by the Caribbean Sea; to the...
n journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
, born 2 December 1941 in Bogotá
Bogotá
Bogotá, Distrito Capital , from 1991 to 2000 called Santa Fé de Bogotá, is the capital, and largest city, of Colombia. It is also designated by the national constitution as the capital of the department of Cundinamarca, even though the city of Bogotá now comprises an independent Capital district...
. Mr Amat is considered one of the cornerstones of Colombian journalism.
His basic education took place at Colegio Salesiano in Tunja
Tunja
Tunja is a city and municipality located in the central part of Colombia, in the region of "Alto Chicomocha". As of the 2005 Census it had 152,419 inhabitants. It is the capital of the Department of Boyacá and part of the subregion of the Central Boyacá Province. It is approximately 145 km...
. He studied at the Airlie Institute in Virginia
Virginia
The Commonwealth of Virginia , is a U.S. state on the Atlantic Coast of the Southern United States. Virginia is nicknamed the "Old Dominion" and sometimes the "Mother of Presidents" after the eight U.S. presidents born there...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. His journalistic debut was at emisora Monserrate in the 1960s
1960s
The 1960s was the decade that started on January 1, 1960, and ended on December 31, 1969. It was the seventh decade of the 20th century.The 1960s term also refers to an era more often called The Sixties, denoting the complex of inter-related cultural and political trends across the globe...
. He would later join Radiosucesos newscast on RCN Radio
RCN Radio
RCN Radio is one of the main radio networks in Colombia. Founded in 1949 with the integration of Radio Pacífico , La Voz de Medellín' and Emisora Nueva Granada ....
, and the T. V. Sucesos newscast on television. He directed El Bogotano
El Bogotano
El Bogotano was a Colombian tabloid evening daily newspaper, founded in 1973 by Consuelo Salgar de Montejo.Despite its sensationalism, El Bogotano was also known for denouncing several political scandals in the 1970s, including a corruption case involving President Alfonso López Michelsen.It was...
newspaper —where he was responsible for its infamous main headline published on the 2 January 1974 issue reading Maremoto en Bolivia ("Seaquake in Bolivia
Bolivia
Bolivia officially known as Plurinational State of Bolivia , is a landlocked country in central South America. It is the poorest country in South America...
")—, worked for EFE
EFE
EFE is a Spanish news agency created in 1939 by Spain's former minister of the press and propaganda Ramón Serrano Súñer and Manuel Aznar Zubigaray....
news agency and was in charge of a column in El Espacio.
In the 1980s he directed Contrapunto T. V., a current affairs
Current affairs (news format)
Current Affairs is a genre of broadcast journalism where the emphasis is on detailed analysis and discussion of news stories that have recently occurred or are ongoing at the time of broadcast....
television show, and join Caracol Radio
Caracol Radio
Caracol Radio is one of the main radio networks in Colombia. Founded in Medellín in 1948 when La Voz de Antioquia station acquired the 50% of Emisoras Nuevo Mundo, based in Bogotá....
, becoming its news director until 1990. While at Caracol Radio, he hosted morning news show 6 A. M. — 9 A. M. (known as 6 AM Hoy por Hoy since Caracol Radio was acquired by PRISA
PRISA
Promotora de Informaciones, S.A is a Spanish media conglomerate. The PRISA group was founded in 1972 by Jesús de Polanco.-Newspapers:* El País, daily newspaper* Diario AS sports newspaper* Cinco Días economic newspaper-Magazines:...
). In late 1980s he presented and directed Caracol TV
Caracol TV
Caracol Televisión is a Colombian private national television network, owned by Julio Mario Santo Domingo.- History :Caracol Televisión started in 1954 when Organización de Radiodifusora Caracol offered to afford national television costs, then state-run, through commercial spots...
's Reportajes Caracol, as well as Los derechos de la gente, produced by Coestrellas.
In 1991 he co-founded the CM&
CM&
CM& is a 1992 colombian News program created by Yamid Amat and Juan Gossaín and aired on RTVC´s Canal Uno.- The & :CM& are the acronyms of Compañía de Medios de Información, the & was adopted in 1993- External links :* News List* News List*...
newscast, broadcast on weeknights on Canal Uno
Canal Uno
Canal Uno is the first Colombian national television channel. It started 13 June 1954 on Channel 8 in Bogotá. It is state-owned, operated by Radio Televisión Nacional de Colombia, and privately-run, with programming companies known as programadoras bidding for time slots with the Colombian...
. He was his director until 1998 and then again since 2002. Amat also created RadioNet, a 24-hour news radio network
Radio network
There are two types of radio networks currently in use around the world: the one-to-many broadcast type commonly used for public information and mass media entertainment; and the two-way type used more commonly for public safety and public services such as police, fire, taxicabs, and delivery...
, which would be later absorbed by Caracol Radio. Meanwhile, he directed Caracol Noticias. Besides his work at CM&, he keeps a weekly column in El Tiempo newspaper.
Awards
Mr Amat has been honoured for his ground breaking work in radio and television. He developed new formats and impulsed the careers of new people that became important in the Colombian media.Among his merits are:
- Order from the Colombian Congress in the grade of Knight's Cross
- Four times winner of the Journalism Award granted by the CPB (Círculo de Periodistas de Bogotá)
- Nine times winner of the Premio Nacional de Periodismo Simón Bolívar
- UNICEF award for his contributions to the Vaccination campaigns in Colombia