On june 7, 1810, the first issue of the Gazeta de Buenos Ayres was released. It was a newspaper written by Mariano Moreno, with the aid of Father Manuel Alberti, Manuel Belgrano and Juan José Castelli. Since 1938, that date has been honoured in Argentina as ‘Día del Periodista’ (“Journalist’s Day”). The role independent journalism plays in society is of the utmost importance. It’s a powerful antidote against totalitarian regimes and tyrannies. To give an example, the Buenos Aires Herald was the only paper which openly criticised the last military dictatorship (1976-1983). As a consequence, its editor at that time, Robert Cox, was threatened, detained and had to flee from Argentina. Bob Cox was the voice of a whole nation. He had the guts that many lacked, and disclosed in black and white unimaginable horrors that were taking place all through those dark years. We Argentines owe him a lot. One of the most despicable things the military dictatorship did was to persecute and censor journalists who opposed their policies. It also corrupted many others, through bribery and favours. Press freedom should be protected at all costs, against all odds. And independent journalists carry that torch all over the world. For humanity’s sake.
Buenos Aires Times, June 13, 2026