Aiola Virella

Aiola Virella is the editor in chief of Metro Puerto Rico, where she has led editorial strategy and newsroom operations for more than a decade. A journalist with over 30 years of experience in print, radio, and multimedia, her career has been defined by reporting on government, politics and public affairs, as well as leading newsrooms through periods of crisis and transformation. 

Virella has led newsroom coverage of major events including natural disasters, political crises, and systemic challenges in Puerto Rico. She has held key leadership roles including assignment editor, news director, executive director and previously served as global editor of Metro World News. Her work has been recognized by the Puerto Rico Journalists Association and the Overseas Press Club. 

Virella is a fellow of the Journalists in Aging Fellowship Program and was selected for the 2026 Aging Beat Cohort at the Craig Newmark Graduate School of Journalism at CUNY. She has taught communications at the University of Puerto Rico and the Ana G. Méndez University. She focuses on strengthening journalism as a public service, with a particular interest in how small newsrooms can embrace and adapt to technological change while maintaining trust and accountability.