Leonardo Suárez Montoya was a Venezuelan-Colombian guest researcher at the Leibniz Institute for Media Research | Hans-Bredow-Institut from June until October 2021, working with
PD Dr. Jan-Hinrik Schmidt in the area of journalistic ethics and its links with democracy, especially concerning the role of citizenry.
He is currently a doctoral student at the University of Valencia in Spain, where his dissertation centers on the citizen’s responsibility with respect to fake news.
He received a Bachelor’s degree in Mass Communication from Andres Bello Catholic University (Guayana Extension) in Venezuela. He followed with graduate studies in Practical Philosophy at the same university, writing his thesis on St. Augustine’s concept of mercy. For his Master’s in Ethics and Democracy he was given the Extraordinary Master’s Degree Award for 2018-2019 from the University of Valencia and Universitat Jaume I. Most recently, he completed a research stay from February to May 2021 at Universidad Pontificia Bolivariana (Colombia).
Leonardo Suárez Montoya is on the faculty of both the School of Mass Communication and the School of Administration and Accounting for Andres Bello Catholic University in Venezuela, teaching courses such as Grammar, Public Opinion, International Relations, Journalistic Hybrid Narratives, Journalistic Deontology, and Journalistic Ethics.
He served as journalist and then editor of the award-winning Correo del Caroní newspaper in Guayana City, Venezuela (2010-2018), specializing in politics, economics, religious matters, and international affairs. He also implemented the digital transformation of the newspaper.
