Romina Magnani

Editorial Director of Ecos Costa Verde

Romina Magnani is the journalist who led Ecos Costa Verde magazine throughout its print run — published between 1993 and 2006 — and who now continues to bring this project to life, keeping the essence of Argentina’s Atlantic Coast alive through its digital version, social media, and YouTube channel.

Raised in Villa Gesell, her bond with journalism began in the summer of 1989–1990 when she joined the television program Verano Reporter alongside renowned journalist and writer Aníbal Saldívar, aired on Channel 2 of Villa Gesell. It was her first on-camera experience and her first real step into the craft of storytelling. During that period, she had the opportunity to interview prominent figures, including Juan Alberto Badía, who later invited her in 1991 to do radio coverage from Villa Gesell for his program Pinamar para Amar on FM Estudio Playa 98.1. Romina worked with Badía for 16 consecutive years, covering events across the region and hosting various programs on his station such as Romina y la Prima Vera and Ecos Costa Verde, a print-to-radio concept show.

Her journalistic training began in 1991, when she attended a yearlong radio journalism workshop led by journalist and Malvinas War veteran Edgardo Esteban. Edgardo was staying at Hotel Romina while Romina was hosting Verano Reporter, and he persistently encouraged her to complement her on-camera experience with the language of radio. At first, Romina resisted — she was studying for a degree in Business Administration, had no intention of adding more commitments, and claimed she wasn’t interested in radio. But she eventually accepted, mainly to support Edgardo’s endeavor, understanding how difficult it was for a war veteran to reintegrate into civilian life. That year, the workshop focused entirely on radio field reports — a skill that proved crucial when Juan Alberto Badía later invited her to do live radio spots for his program.

Romina had dreamed of working with Badía since her teenage years, admiring him deeply through his show Imagen de Radio on Argentine television. Interestingly, Edgardo shared that same dream — to be a field reporter for Badía on Radio Del Plata, if he made it back from the war. Years later, he did earn that role, but by then Badía had already left, and they never crossed paths in that context. In a poetic twist of fate, it was Edgardo who taught Romina the skills she needed to fulfill that dream instead.

Romina earned her diploma in General Journalism at TEA (Taller Escuela Agencia) in Buenos Aires in 1997, receiving her degree from Luis Gruss, her favorite teacher and an expert in interview technique. Prior to that, she had completed more than half of her Business Administration degree at the University of Buenos Aires, which she began in 1987, before Zaldívar’s invitation to join him on TV during the summer of 1990 changed her path. Later, she also studied Literature at the National University of Mar del Plata.

In 2012, Romina published Contame de Gesell, her first book of interviews — a compilation of over sixty conversations with artists, pioneers, and iconic figures connected to Villa Gesell, such as Hugo Varela, Alejandro Lerner, Celeste Carballo, Alberto Granado, Piero, Sebastián and Trudy Gesell, among others. The interviews were conducted between 1993 and 2011, and most were originally published in the Villa Gesell and Costa Verde editions of Ecos. The book was officially launched in Villa Gesell during Easter week of that year, with journalist Aníbal Zaldívar and architect Marcela Di Marco joining Romina for the event, which took place at the historic café Los Amigos and brought together local residents, interviewees, and special guests. Later, the book was also presented at the Buenos Aires International Book Fair. Romina was invited to speak about it in several national and regional media outlets, especially in Pinamar, where local colleagues warmly welcomed her.

Throughout her career, Romina has hosted various radio programs, including Pan y Circo with screenwriter Enrique “Pelusa” Sdrech in 1999 and 2000. Most recently, in 2023, she hosted the radio show Romina Modo Verano from Villa Gesell, alongside comedian Juan Acosta and sports journalist Nicolás Álvarez.

Her artistic background includes visual arts. She was part of the Convergencias group in Pinamar, directed by renowned artist Beatriz Orosco, who lived and held her studio in the city. For several years, Romina took part in the group’s collective exhibitions, especially those held during the Pantalla Pinamar Film Festivals.

In 2025, Romina presented Prensa en Collage. Periodismo y arte, an exhibition of works created from historical editions of Ecos Costa Verde magazine. The show debuted at the Municipal Exhibition Hall of the Teatro de la Torre Cultural Complex in Pinamar. In this series, Romina transforms journalistic fragments into visual pieces, reimagining the magazine’s archives through the language of collage, opening new dialogues between art, memory, and territory.

Romina also trained as an actress, studying with several acclaimed teachers, including Julio Chávez, with whom she completed a full training program. She has performed in plays and short films and has also ventured into directing and audiovisual production.

Today, she continues to develop and share cultural and journalistic content through digital platforms, exploring new ways to narrate and connect with the community. Through her YouTube channel and other outlets, she shares stories, interviews, and reflections that highlight and celebrate the region’s rich cultural heritage.

Romina currently runs Romina Art Hotel in Villa Gesell — a creative haven just steps from the sea, carrying forward the legacy of her father, Bruno Magnani, who built the hotel when she was born and named it after her. Together with her mother, Videlina Otero Gondar, they cared for and updated the hotel over the decades. In 2011, Romina decided to carry on that legacy and transform the space into what it is today: a warm and inspiring retreat where art, comfort, and beauty intertwine. Designed by a team of architects and designers, the hotel combines high-quality materials with a contemporary aesthetic. Art fills every corner — including the guest rooms — showcasing works by artists from various places. It also features a library and a sea-view salon that invites inspiration by day — for writing, creating, working, or simply contemplating — and transforms into a cultural venue by night, hosting performances, presentations, and artistic gatherings.
From there, and through all her projects, Romina continues weaving stories that connect, move, and celebrate life by the sea.