Vizcaíno journalist Izaskun Ellakuriaga Bustintza dies

The Iurretarra journalist Izaskun Ellakuriaga Bustintza died on Wednesday afternoon from a disease at the age of 53.

He was, among others, the head of communication of the Gerediaga Association and marketing of the Durango Fair , as well as the broadcaster of Bizkaia Irratia.

"Izaskun was generous, courageous and tireless, one of those who showed passion and work in all fields above all obstacles; she had a special sense of humour and was an extraordinary interlocutor," the Gerediaga Association stressed.

Ellakuriaga himself highlighted the militancy and involvement of the organizers of the Durango Fair in his interview with Biba Zuekin 2022.

He began his studies in the ikastolas of Iurreta and Durango and graduated in Journalism from the UPV in 1995. At the same university he held a Master's Degree in Multimedia Business Management in 2003 and received training in the various areas of communication (public relations, protocol, organization of events, social networks).

Hebegan his professional career in Euskaldunon Egunkaria, where he wrote party chronicles and cultural chronicles, and published a weekly chronicle on bertsolarism.

Hewas a member of the editorial board of the magazine Bertsolari and wrote a series of articles, including essays and juries.

He worked as editor and director of the weekly Durangaldeko Eraz from 1994 to 2003, and later worked in other areas of communication.

He was a communication adviser or head of various institutions, such as the Berriz City Council, the Ibilaldia organized by the Ikastola Kurutziaga de Durango in 2005 and the 2009 Bertsolarism Championship in the Basque Country.

He knew the Cofradías de Iurreta closely and even tried to represent them, but he was not approved for being a woman.

In order to improve English, in 2012 he moved to New Zealand and Australia and had the opportunity to get to know the culture and life of the country, an experience that appears in the book Flying Moles (2024) in a juicy conversation.

He founded the Lekukom communications agency with journalist Marijo Deogracias, and he really loved the radio:  was the broadcasterof Bizkaia Irratia .