Santo Domingo.- Journalism and entertainment chronicles in the Dominican Republic lose one of their most emblematic figures with the passing of Carlos Batista Matos, a renowned journalist and chronicler who died this Monday at the age of 75, leaving an indelible legacy in national culture and media.
Born on December 30, 1950, in Vicente Noble, Barahona province, Batista showed from an early age an inclination towards communication and cultural analysis. His academic training was marked by excellence, graduating with honors Summa Cum Laude in International Relations, which demonstrated his comprehensive vision beyond journalistic practice.
He began his career at the defunct evening newspaper Última Hora, where he worked as editor of the entertainment section and of the magazine “La Tarde Alegre”. In that space he also developed his influential column “Escenario”, characterized by a critical, direct and analytical style, which positioned him as a respected voice within the artistic field.
Over the years, he made the leap to television, achieving great popularity with his program With the Famous, broadcast by Color Visión since 1998. This space became a mandatory reference for entertainment, consolidating him as one of the most influential art chroniclers in the country. He also participated in important productions such as Bachatas Urbanas and was linked to the Casandra Awards since its first editions in 1985.
Nicknamed “The Most Expensive Man” and “The Most Beautiful Man“, Batista Matos was known not only for his distinctive style, but also for his firm defense of the Dominican cultural industry and his constant support for national talents.
In addition to his work in the media, he ventured as a writer, leaving valuable works such as History and Evolution of Merengue (1999) and Bachata: History and Evolution (2002), fundamental texts for understanding the development of Dominican popular music. His approach transcended journalism, integrating a sociological perspective that allowed him to interpret these genres as a reflection of national identity.
He was also the founder and president of the Bulevar de las Estrellas Foundation, an initiative dedicated to recognizing outstanding figures in art and culture on Winston Churchill Avenue, strengthening the recognition of Dominican talent locally and internationally.
In the public sphere, he served as ambassador attached to the Chancellery in 2005, from where he promoted Dominican culture in international settings.
Throughout his career, he received multiple recognitions, including tributes from the Association of Art Journalists (Acroarte), which valued his contribution to entertainment journalism and his contribution to the preservation of the country’s cultural memory.
In his last program broadcast on Friday, April 10th, he interviewed sports reporter Héctor Gómez, with whom he discussed the fourth Dominican player to win a championship in the NCAA, Yaxel Lendeborg, and the progress of the book the journalist was writing.
