The Murcian municipality of Abarán is once again putting up the journalism and literary creation The spotlight is on the announcement of the 8th Pedro Soler Short Story Competition, a contest that has established itself as one of the few events in Spain dedicated exclusively to stories related to the journalistic profession. This nationwide initiative brings together institutions, media outlets, and writers to celebrate the memory of the beloved reporter from Abarán.
Driven jointly by the Abarán City Council, the Cajamurcia Foundation and the newspaper La VerdadThe competition maintains its essence: short stories focused on the world of journalism, written by authors over 16 years of age. In addition to the cash prizes, the publication of the winning entry in the newspaper, both in print and digital editions, adds an extra attraction for those who wish to see their work featured in a leading publication in the Region of Murcia.
A national call with journalism as the common thread
The eighth edition of the competition reaffirms its national and thematic characterOnly stories that revolve around journalism, its professionals, and its inner workings are accepted. Stories can range from life in a newsroom or the daily routine of a reporter to complex investigations, feature stories, interviews, or the ethical dilemmas and tensions the profession faces today.
The guidelines state that the texts must be original, unpublished works written in SpanishThe short story must be between 700 and 1.000 words in length. Participation is open to anyone over 16 years of age residing anywhere in Spain, making the competition a showcase for new voices and established authors who wish to explore the short story genre with a journalistic perspective.
On the economic front, the organization maintains the same funding as in previous years: a grant is awarded first prize of 1.200 euros The winner will receive a prize, while two other participants will each receive a runner-up prize of 100 euros. Beyond the monetary value, the exposure from the publication in La Verdad is considered one of the most valued incentives for participants.
The deadline for submitting the works will remain open until August 30th, XNUMXThe stories must comply with the conditions set out in the official rules, available for consultation on the websites of the Abarán City Council (abaran.es) and the Cajamurcia Foundation (fundacioncajamurcia.es), where details about the submission, the identification of the originals and the pseudonym system are specified.
El The jury's decision will be announced in October.Once all the submitted texts have been reviewed, the organization emphasizes that the competition has experienced progressive growth in participation in its previous editions, with stories coming from different autonomous communities and even from authors residing abroad, which reinforces the national dimension of the event.
A symbolic handover ceremony at the Cervantes Theatre
The culminating moment of this eighth edition will arrive on November 26thThe date chosen for the awards ceremony at the Cervantes Theatre in Abarán is not just any day: it coincides with the eighth anniversary of Pedro Soler's death, and the historic Abarán theatre will also celebrate the centenary of its opening in 2026, adding a particularly symbolic dimension to the evening.
The gala aims to be more than just a simple ceremonial event, becoming a cultural celebrationThe winners, institutional representatives, and various guests from the world of journalism and the arts are expected to attend. Among those invited, according to the organizers, are the artists who created the posters for previous editions and the regional government's Minister of Culture, journalist Carmen María Conesa.
The Cervantes Theatre, a building deeply rooted in the collective memory of Abarán, will serve as the setting for a meeting that links local memory, literature and journalistic craftThe choice of this space is not accidental: Pedro Soler himself highlighted the cultural life of the Region of Murcia through his texts, and the theater represents one of the emblems of that cultural life in the Ricote Valley.
Before reaching that date, the contest already had its first official launch with the Presentation event held at the Las Claras Cultural Center, Cajamurcia FoundationIn Murcia, the rules of the competition and the artwork that illustrates the official poster for this edition were announced at a meeting that brought together representatives of the institutions involved and the cultural sector.
The presentation included the participation of Penélope Luna, Councillor for Culture of AbaránThe event was attended by Pascual Martínez, director of the Cajamurcia Foundation; Manuel Madrid, head of the Culture section of La Verdad newspaper; and Antonio Carrasco, a visual artist from Abarán who designed the poster. Other municipal representatives also present included Fátima Saorín, councilor for Festivals and Equality, and María del Carmen Gómez, coordinator of the José Vargas Library in Abarán and secretary of the competition.
A jury with roots in the Region of Murcia
The selection of the stories will fall to a jury made up of professionals linked to the Region of Murcia and those familiar with the career of the honored journalist. This year, the panel will consist of the official chronicler of Abarán, José Simeón Carrasco, and journalists Manuel Madrid, Encarna Yelo, and María Soler, daughter of Pedro Soler.
It is a team with a Extensive experience in the information and cultural fieldaccustomed to evaluating texts and careers, his work is not limited to designating a winner, but also seeks to discover new voices and literary proposals that offer original perspectives on journalism, whether from a more classic tone or from experimental approaches.
The presence of María Soler on the jury It adds an emotional component to the award decision, directly representing the family connection to the person being remembered. Alongside this, the participation of active journalists and the official chronicler of Abarán reinforces the mixed nature of the jury, a blend of professional practice and the preservation of local memory.
In addition to assessing the literary quality of the stories, the jury will pay attention to the plausibility of the journalistic world that is described, to the treatment of ethical conflicts inherent in the profession and the way in which authors play with narrative tools to tell stories inspired by real news.
The rules state that the jury's decision will be final And that, in case it is considered that the works do not reach the required level, some of the prizes could be declared void, a common clause in this type of literary competition and which underlines the requirement of quality that is sought to be maintained.
Antonio Carrasco's poster: a portrait without a figure
One of the distinctive features of the Pedro Soler Journalist Short Story Competition is that each edition includes a poster created by an artist from the Region of MurciaOn this occasion, the commission has fallen to the painter from Abarán, Antonio Carrasco (Abarán, 1988), a graduate in Fine Arts from the University of Murcia and known for his mastery of realism and hyperrealism.
For the poster of this eighth edition, Carrasco has created the work entitled "Walk along the river"The work is conceived as a tribute to both Pedro Soler and their shared hometown. The artist explained that, although his initial impulse was to paint a realistic portrait of the journalist, he decided to take on the challenge of "portraying the person without his physical presence," using objects that evoke his image.
The composition shows a a hat, glasses, a pen, and a notebook or journalElements associated with both his recognizable attire and his daily work as a journalist and art critic are depicted. These objects rest on stones on the banks of the Segura River, in a sharply defined foreground that draws the viewer's attention.
In the background, more out of focus and distant, is depicted the landscape of the Jarral de AbaránThis is one of the most emblematic spots in the municipality and one of the most recognizable images of the Ricote Valley, along with the traditional waterwheels. The river environment provides territorial context and reinforces the sense of belonging to one's homeland.
The whole set is wrapped in a smooth transition effect to whiteWith this, Carrasco seeks to convey the feeling of remembrance, of a memory that fades without disappearing. In this way, the poster functions as a visual evocation: the physical absence of Pedro Soler is compensated by the symbolic presence of the objects that accompanied him in life and the landscape that marked his biography.
The artistic career of Antonio Carrasco
Beyond the poster, the competition also serves to promote the Antonio Carrasco's artistic careerShe combines her creative work with teaching drawing and painting workshops for seniors and children. Her work has focused primarily on oil portraits on canvas, where she employs a highly recognizable realistic and hyperrealistic style.
Critics and specialists emphasize the technical capacity and thematic versatility The painter has explored various styles and approaches, including pieces with a critical and political message. His working method is characterized by meticulous perfectionism: he attends to every detail, sparing no time, with the intention of achieving a result as faithful to reality as possible.
Carrasco himself has explained on several occasions that his goal is to offer images that connect with positive values and that provoke in the viewer a reflection on the person or the environment depicted. This philosophy is also behind “Walk by the River,” where the figure of the journalist is evoked through everyday objects laden with meaning.
Since 2012, the artist has participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions within and outside the Region of Murcia. His work has been exhibited in venues such as the WiZink Center in Madrid, the Espacio Mercado Gallery in Getafe, the Pedro Cano Foundation, and the Almudí Palace, among others, as well as in exhibitions held in Portugal and Sweden.
Throughout his career, Carrasco has achieved several awards in painting competitionsAmong his accolades is the first prize at the 5th Spring Salon of Realistic Painting in Madrid. This experience supports his participation in the literary competition as the poster's creator, thus linking the artistic tradition of the Region of Murcia with a contest focused on writing and journalism.
Pedro Soler: Journalism, Research and Regional Culture
The competition cannot be understood without the figure that gives it its name. Pedro Soler, who died in November 2018He was one of the leading figures in cultural journalism in the Region of Murcia for much of the 20th century. Born in Abarán, he spent most of his career at the newspaper La Verdad, where for more than four decades he carried out work that was close, rigorous, and deeply linked to the social and cultural life of the region.
His work earned him institutional recognition as Official chronicler of the city of Murcia and a member of the Royal Academy of Fine Arts of Santa María de la Arrixaca. But, beyond his positions, those who knew him highlight his humanity, his subtle irony, his commitment to local culture and his affection for the people around him, traits that have left a lasting mark on the collective memory of Murcia.
In the field of research and literature, Soler signed the History of the newspaper La Verdad on the occasion of its centenary He delved into the biographies of important figures such as Francisco Martínez García, Martínez Tornel, and Baquero Almansa. He is also the author of works such as "History of the Virgin of Fuensanta," "Yesterday and Today of the Murcia Circus Theatre (1982-2011)," and "Four Incredible Stories," published at different stages of his career.
His role as art critic and promoter of visual artists from Murcia She was equally prominent. Through reviews, interviews, and articles published in the newspaper and in cultural supplements such as GPS and Ababol, she gave visibility to numerous creators from the Region of Murcia, helping to bring their work to the attention of the general public and consolidate a distinct artistic scene.
In recognition of this work, the Abarán City Council promoted the creation of a short story competition dedicated to the field of journalism, with the aim of preserving his legacy, keeping his memory alive and fostering literary creation among those who feel curiosity or a vocation for the world of information.
A legacy that is projected in each edition of the competition
Over the years, the Pedro Soler Journalist Short Story Competition has become strengthening its identity and expanding its reachThe competition is conceived as a space where literature, journalistic practice and local memory converge, and each year it adds participants who find in the theme an opportunity to reflect on the social function of information.
In previous editions, a growing participation of authors from different parts of Spain and even from AmericaThis demonstrates that stories about journalists, newsrooms, chronicles, and investigations resonate with a wide range of audiences. One of the milestones highlighted by the organizers was the sixth edition, which saw a record 191 original submissions, reflecting the strong interest the competition generates.
Beyond the figures, the competition has allowed us to discover stories that approach journalism from very varied perspectivesFrom chronicles of daily life in a local newsroom to stories about international conflicts, including pieces focused on radio, television, photojournalism, and the challenges posed by social media and the immediacy of information.
The organization emphasizes that the competition has also become a meeting point between generationsOn the one hand, veteran journalists and writers participate as jurors or advisors; on the other, young authors and emerging voices find here a first space for recognition, something especially relevant in a context where literary prizes with a journalistic theme are not abundant in Spain.
Overall, the eighth edition of the Pedro Soler Journalist Short Story Competition reinforces the commitment of Abarán and the Region of Murcia to a a culture that combines memory, creation, and commitment to the wordBetween paying tribute to a key figure in regional journalism, promoting new narratives, and fostering collaboration between institutions, the competition is establishing itself as an annual event, like the Badajoz book fair, which allows literature to continue being linked to the craft of telling reality.