El Mundo (Argentina)
| Company type | Daily newspaper |
|---|---|
| Industry | Media, Publishing |
| Founded | May 14, 1928 Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| Defunct | December 22, 1967 |
| Fate | Ceased publication |
| Headquarters | Buenos Aires , Argentina |
| Owner | Editorial Haynes (until 1939), Alea state consortium (from 1939), Peronist control (from 1949), later owners associated with Radio Rivadavia, Minera Aluminé, and Banco Buenos Aires |
El Mundo (translated as The World) was a morning daily newspaper distributed in Buenos Aires, Argentina, by Editorial Haynes. It began publication on 14 May 1928 and continued until mid-1967, when an unsuccessful transition to an evening edition was attempted. Throughout the Infamous Decade (1930–1943), the paper provided coverage amid considerable political turmoil and repression. Following the election of Juan Perón in 1946, the publishing house came under Peronist control, aligning the newspaper with their political objectives.
Publisher
Editorial Haynes was established by Albert Haynes, an English immigrant who arrived in Argentina in 1887 to work for the British-owned Buenos Aires Western Railway. He later ventured into publishing, founding the popular magazine El Hogar. The company also produced other pioneering magazines known for their striking design and imagery. On 29 December 1923, Editorial Haynes inaugurated its principal building in Buenos Aires, outfitted with state-of-the-art printing technology.
Haynes initially faced setbacks in launching a daily newspaper, but on 24 May 1928, his firm successfully reintroduced El Mundo in a tabloid style—compact in size, rich in photographs, affordable, and featuring weekly football contests with cash rewards.
Albert Haynes passed away on 21 June 1929, by which time El Mundo had garnered a loyal readership. His son-in-law, Henry Wesley Smith, originally from Britain, took over management and led the paper until its takeover by the Alea state consortium in 1939. During this era, the newspaper discreetly promoted British interests within Argentina.
Pablo Mastandrea (1906–1976), an anarchist and active union representative, worked as a typesetter at Haynes Publishing during the Infamous Decade—a time characterized by electoral fraud, political persecution primarily targeting the UCR, and widespread government corruption amid the Great Depression.
Among distinguished contributors was writer Roberto Arlt, whose weekly column Aguafuertes appeared from 1928 until his death in 1942. Arlt’s candid commentary delved into daily life in Buenos Aires and critically examined public institutions such as juvenile justice and healthcare. Several of his columns were later compiled into collections like Secretos femeninos and Aguafuertes inéditas.
The comic strip Piantadino, created by Adolfo Mazzone, made its debut in the newspaper in 1941.
Peronist organ
Following General Juan Perón's election as president in 1946, efforts were made to control the media to prevent military coups that Argentine journalism had previously supported. In early 1949, the Peronists acquired a majority stake in Editorial Haynes, then owned by Henry Wesley Smith. At that time, Editorial Haynes published ten periodicals including El Mundo, all of which were transformed into vehicles for Peronist propaganda. Major Carlos Aloe, a close associate of Eva Perón, was appointed to lead the company at Eva's behest despite lacking business expertise. Staff members were mandated to hold a Partido Justicialista membership card or face termination.
Later years
Following the Revolución Libertadora in 1955, El Mundo continued under government control but entered a distinct journalistic era featuring contributors such as Bernardo Neustadt, Ulíses Barrera, Ricardo Arias, and Jacobo Timerman. In May 1960, businessman José Ber Gelbard brought in Timerman to rejuvenate the publication, which was then purchased by owners associated with Radio Rivadavia, Minera Aluminé, and Banco Buenos Aires—entities reportedly linked to the Communist Party.
Throughout its existence, the newspaper experienced several shifts in ownership and editorial direction while striving to maintain a politically neutral position. It stood against the 1966 military coup that launched the Argentine Revolution. Nevertheless, during the regime of dictator Juan Carlos Onganía and under the influence of Roberto Noble (owner of Clarín), the enterprise was deliberately undermined. Following prolonged delays in salary payments, El Mundo ultimately halted publication on 22 December 1967.
Subsequently, the brand was taken over by factions connected to the PRT (Partido Revolucionario de los Trabajadores) and ERP (Ejército Revolucionario del Pueblo), who issued a successor publication between 1973 and 1974. This version ceased operations amid governmental crackdowns and a mass departure of journalists. It bore no direct affiliation with the original newspaper, operating from different locations with an entirely separate team.