Diario Hoy (Argentina)
| Company type | Daily newspaper |
|---|---|
| Industry | Media |
| Founded | 1993-12-10 |
| Founder | Family of Antonio Balcedo |
| Defunct | 2018 |
| Headquarters | La Plata , Argentina |
Area served | La Plata and surrounding areas in Buenos Aires Province |
Key people | Antonio Balcedo (founder), Myriam Renée Chávez de Balcedo (final editorial director), Marcelo Balcedo (former morning director) |
| Products | Newspaper |
Diario Hoy en la Noticia (translated as "the newspaper of today's news") was a daily Argentine newspaper based in La Plata, Buenos Aires Province. It was established on 10 December 1993 by the family of Antonio Balcedo, who served as Secretary General of the Union of Workers and Minors of Education and Minority (SOEME) and was a prominent union figure within the General Confederation of Labor. The publication discontinued operations in 2018. The final editorial leadership was held by Myriam Renée Chávez de Balcedo, Antonio Balcedo’s spouse.
The headquarters were situated at 426 32nd Street, with printing facilities located in the Manuel B. Gonnet district.
Distribution
Starting from 1 June 2010, Diario Hoy initiated complimentary distribution across various neighboring areas such as Berazategui, Quilmes, Brandsen, Magdalena, Ranchos, Bavio, Chascomús, Lezama, General Conesa, Maipú, San Miguel del Monte, Las Flores, General Guido, Dolores, Castelli, General Belgrano, General Lavalle, and Mar de Ajó.
By the year 2018, the newspaper ceased its free circulation model and began charging 15 pesos per issue, achieving a daily reach of approximately 60,000 copies.
Closure
On 4 January 2018, Marcelo Balcedo, who was serving as morning director, was detained in Uruguay facing accusations including money laundering and smuggling. Following this event, Myriam Renée Chávez de Balcedo took over the directorship and proceeded with layoffs exceeding 100 employees spanning editorial and production departments. The publication scaled back its print volume, discontinued free distribution by imposing a price ranging from 10 to 15 pesos per copy, and intermittently halted weekend editions.
On 18 October 2018, Chávez de Balcedo was arrested on charges related to illicit association, money laundering, and embezzlement involving SOEME funds amounting to 64 million pesos. Subsequently, she was placed under house arrest accompanied by a seizure order valued at 400 million pesos. Amid these circumstances, the newspaper issued its last print edition on 2 November 2018 featuring an editorial sharply critical of Judge Ernesto Kreplak.
Print production ended on 3 November 2018; the website went offline on the following day and has remained inactive since.
Paper Carriers
The dismissal of paper carriers was communicated through a WhatsApp message:
"Good morning. I inform you that as of Saturday, November 3rd, the newspaper has shut down permanently. Unfortunately, this outcome is due to significant judicial pressure exerted against this publication. I will provide further updates if available. I sincerely thank many of you for your perseverance over the years—especially throughout this challenging final year. Best regards."
Motto
The newspaper adopted mottos such as "Reflect the reality as it is," "The right to inform and be informed," and "The newspaper that broke with the information monopoly." These slogans emphasized its position as an alternative voice to the traditional Platense newspaper El Día, which had been La Plata’s only daily until Diario Hoy’s establishment in 1993.