Clarín (Argentine newspaper)
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Newspaper publishing |
| Founded | August 28, 1945 in Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| Founder | Roberto Noble |
| Headquarters | Buenos Aires , Argentina |
Key people | Héctor Magnetto (publisher), Ricardo Kirschbaum (chief editor), Ricardo Roa (managing editor) |
| Products | Newspaper (print and digital) |
| Owner | Arte Gráfico Editorial Argentino S.A. (subsidiary of Clarín Group) |
| Parent | Clarín Group |
| Website | clarin |
Clarín (, ) stands as Argentina's foremost newspaper and ranks second in circulation among Spanish-language publications worldwide. Established in 1945 by Roberto Noble, it is produced by the Clarín Group. For an extended period, its leadership was under Ernestina Herrera de Noble, the founder’s spouse.
The newspaper is owned by Arte Gráfico Editorial Argentino S.A., a subsidiary of the Clarín Group, with its main offices located in Buenos Aires. Héctor Magnetto serves as the publisher, while Ricardo Kirschbaum holds the position of chief editor and Ricardo Roa acts as managing editor. In 2012, its print edition circulated around 270,444 copies, with digital readership reaching approximately 100,000 by 2018.
Clarín adopts a social liberal editorial perspective, having previously supported developmentalist principles. It is affiliated with Periódicos Asociados Latinoamericanos (Latin American Newspaper Association), a coalition comprising fourteen prominent South American newspapers.
History
The newspaper was launched by Roberto Noble, a former minister of Buenos Aires Province, on 28 August 1945. It was among Argentina’s earliest tabloids and had become the nation’s best-selling newspaper by 1965, eventually leading Spanish-language sales by 1985. In 1967, it was the first Argentine paper to include a magazine supplement with its Sunday edition, followed by the introduction of thematic supplements in 1969. The establishment of Artes Gráficas Rioplatense (AGR) in 1976 significantly improved its color printing quality.
Following Noble’s passing in 1969, his widow Ernestina Herrera de Noble assumed the directorship. In 1977, Clarín joined forces with La Nación and La Razón to acquire Papel Prensa. By 1982, it played a key role in founding the "Diarios y Noticias" news agency alongside twenty other newspapers. The Sunday magazine was renamed "Viva" in 1994 and continues under that title today. After reforms to media legislation in 1999, Clarín expanded into a comprehensive media conglomerate known as Grupo Clarín, encompassing radio, television, internet platforms, and print outlets.
On 27 December 1999, Grupo Clarín entered into a capital investment agreement with American firm Goldman Sachs, which obtained an 18% minority stake through a capital increase.
The newspaper launched its online portal clarin.com in March 1996. By April 2011, it registered nearly six million unique daily visitors within Argentina, ranking as the fifth most frequented website nationally and the top Argentine-based digital platform.
Editorial stance
This publication identifies as an independent outlet maintaining a consistent centre-right editorial line that promotes developmentalist ideals.
During the 1946 Argentine general election, Clarín supported José Tamborini of the Radical Civic Union against populist candidate Juan Perón, underscoring constitutional order and republican values.
It backed the Revolución Libertadora that ousted Perón in 1955, featuring favorable coverage such as Eduardo Lonardi’s biography. The newspaper's editorial approach was closely tied to developmentalism until the 1980s, positioning itself as an advocate for industrial growth.
Publisher Hector Magnetto joined as an advisor in 1972 and was associated with the pro-industry Integration and Development Movement (MID). After founder Roberto Noble died, his widow Ernestina Herrera de Noble took over during challenging financial times and secured a US$10 million loan from economist Rogelio Julio Frigerio. The paper continued endorsing Frigerio’s centrist MID agenda focused on infrastructure development and import substitution industrialization. Magnetto later assumed financial management responsibilities, guiding the newspaper through this era.
Relations with President Néstor Kirchner began cooperatively; his administration renewed broadcasting licenses for ten years in 2005 and approved Grupo Clarín’s acquisition of cable operator Cablevisión. However, tensions escalated in 2008 when Clarín opposed government-imposed export taxes by supporting agricultural producers.
The magazine Noticias alleged a "pact" between Clarín and Kirchner to facilitate Grupo Clarín’s expansion into telecommunications, implying government support was pivotal.
Under President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, conflicts intensified due to a contentious media law aimed at increasing media plurality but criticized for limiting freedom of expression. Once an ally, Clarín became openly adversarial. The group controls Argentina's highest-selling newspaper and holds substantial stakes in cable television (59%) and radio (42%), according to AFSCA data.
Concerns emerged that this legislation could threaten independent journalism. As one of the few news organizations independent from government advertising subsidies, Clarín emphasized its role in defending press freedom. General director Héctor Magnetto remarked, "Freedom of expression cannot exist without an independent press. If one is weakened, both are at risk."
Circulation
distributes approximately 330,000 copies across the country, although by 2012 this number had decreased to 270,444. At that time, it captured close to 21 percent of the Argentine newspaper market, a decline from its 35 percent share in 1983. Within Buenos Aires, the publication commands a dominant 44 percent portion of the market.
Web traffic analysis from Alexa and SimilarWeb ranked 's website as the 10th and 14th most frequented site in Argentina respectively as of August 2015. Additionally, SimilarWeb identified it as the third most popular news website in the country, attracting nearly 32 million visitors each month.
See also
External links
- The Holding
- Clarín's Profile on InfoAmerica