Carles Diego Ferrús, Xarli, says he has spent his life communicating. He started at 15, 16 years old "with a friend, presenting the Beatles' albums, without an audience, on a home-made radio". Then, making a neighbourhood newspaper, also very homely. He spoke to Communication students last Monday about this and his half-century of professional experience.
Xarli Diego is a journalist who has a wealth of experience in the world of communication. One of those vocational communicators who “communicated and that was it”. He started broadcasting on the radio with a friend, “without anyone listening but us”, and, “at 15 years old I was recording interviews with musicians like Ovidi Montllor and the most fashionable people of the time, on a cassette and wearing shorts, and I ended up broadcasting to a gentleman who is now well known, Josep Puigbó”. “I think I was 18 when I interviewed the Noi del Poble Sec (boy from Poble Sec), Joan Manuel Serrat.”
Xarli Diego worked in the music scene, his passion: At home, or around the world. Having lunch with Dire Straits in London —“Although I only spoke a little English, unfortunately, because it would have come in handy” — or speaking with Bonnie Tyler on Radio Barcelona; or Supertramp, or Cindy Lauper, or Manhattan Transfer. “It was another time. Back then, international groups came to perform in Barcelona. Now, with the Internet, everything has changed”.
Xarli Diego is a restless man. Fifty years of communication have led him to move around a lot. He’s a familiar face on Spanish television and on TV3. In front of the camera —“Ahí te quiero ver”, “Lotto 6/49”, “Tres pics i repicó” or “El joc del segle”— but also behind it: “You have to be involved in everything, and sometimes it is very important to be behind the cameras, even if it is without notoriety”.
Xarli Diego, therefore, understands only too well that “creativity is important in whatever you do in your professional life. Whether as an advisor to Núria de Gispert —another job he had—, or leading the promotion of the Spanish board game Catan, now so well known”.
Xarli Diego’s professional life has included all of these adventures, and more. We could say that he has a certain moral authority to give advice to Communication students at UIC Barcelona. A few “keys for tackling life without needing to be Superman”, he said. Dedication; passion for what you do, whatever that is; be willing to adapt: up, down or wherever you are needed; there is a time to take risks and you’re at the perfect age to do so; be free and creative: “As my mother said, if you want something done right, do it yourself, and do it well.”
