El Día (La Plata)
| Company type | Daily newspaper |
|---|---|
| Industry | Media |
| Founded | March 2, 1884 |
| Founder | Manuel Lainez, Arturo Ugalde, Martín Biedma, Julio Botet |
| Headquarters | La Plata , Argentina |
| Products | Newspaper |
El Día is a daily newspaper based in La Plata, Argentina.
History
Following La Plata's designation as the capital of the Province of Buenos Aires, a group of four local intellectuals—Manuel Lainez, Arturo Ugalde, Martín Biedma, and Julio Botet—joined forces to establish a daily publication dedicated to the city. Prior to this initiative, La Plata depended heavily on media from Buenos Aires and had only one local publication, La Propaganda, which primarily featured classified advertisements. Their collaboration culminated in the debut of El Día on 2 March 1884, releasing a 4-page edition priced at 5 cents with an initial circulation of 900 copies.
The newspaper was first printed near the former freight railway station and appointed retired journalist José María Mendía as its inaugural director during its early, financially difficult period. Under the stewardship of Hugo Stunz from 1894 until 1952, El Día earned a reputation for prompt news delivery and candid editorials, successfully outlasting multiple short-lived rivals within La Plata. The publication attracted skilled professionals from esteemed institutions such as the University of La Plata and Colegio Nacional, including David Kraiselburd, who would later become editor and a notable local attorney.
By 1961, Kraiselburd assumed the role of editor-in-chief and, alongside the Fascetto family—descendants of Stunz’s daughter—secured a controlling interest in El Día. Confronted with economic difficulties, Kraiselburd’s resistance to military regimes and introduction of innovative features like specialized sections rejuvenated the newspaper, increasing its circulation beyond 70,000.
In 1974, Kraiselburd was assassinated by the far-left Montoneros. Ownership subsequently transferred to his son Raúl Kraiselburd, who continued to defend editorial independence. Both father and son were honored with Columbia University’s Moors Cabot Prize (posthumously awarded in 1975 and received in 2003 respectively) for safeguarding El Día’s autonomy throughout the Dirty War (1976–1983), during which they reported on disappearances and topics largely neglected by other Argentine outlets.
During the 1980s and 1990s, faced with emerging local competitors and the growth of internet media, El Día intensified its emphasis on local news coverage—particularly sports—and introduced a prominent ombudsman section that enabled readers to voice their grievances. In the following decade, it expanded its digital presence by incorporating interactive elements such as "Send Your Own News" and an online submission form for concerns addressed to the "Advocate of the Neighbors" (Defensor de los Vecinos).