Buenos Aires Herald 'to switch from daily to weekly format'

The Buenos Aires Herald, the English-language newspaper famous for defying the military regime that ruled Argentina for seven years from 1976, is reportedly switching from daily to weekly publication.

Editorial staff were evidently shocked by the announcement, which comes little more than a month after the paper celebrated its 140th anniversary.

According to the report, some people have been told by mangers they will lose their jobs. The paper is majority-owned by Indalo Media, part of a diverse group run by Cristóbal López.

In March, the Herald’s Spanish-language rival, Clarín, claimed the Herald was losing about AR$2m (£108,000) a month.

Founded in 1876, it originally served the large number of English-speaking people who arrived in Buenos Aires during an immigration boom.

It is best remembered for ignoring censorship during the brutal 1976-83 dictatorship by reporting on the government’s abductions of people, later known as “the disappeared”.

The Herald’s then editor, Robert Cox, was forced into exile with his family because of threats and intimidation. His heroism was finally recognised in 2010 when he received honorary citizenship.

The switch to weekly format is due to start with the 4 November issue, according to the report in The Bubble, the digital news outlet. It did not obtain any comment from Indalo Media or the paper’s editor-in-chief, Sebastián Lacunza.

Sources: The Bubble/Private email communication/Clarín