La Razón (Buenos Aires)
| Company type | Daily newspaper |
|---|---|
| Industry | Newspaper publishing |
| Founded | 1905 |
| Founder | Emilio Morales |
| Headquarters | Buenos Aires , Argentina |
| Products | Newspaper |
| Parent | Clarín Group |
La Razón functioned as a local newspaper primarily circulated within Buenos Aires' public transportation network.
History
Established in 1905 by journalist Emilio Morales as an afternoon and evening broadsheet, La Razón was purchased in 1911 by José A. Cortejarena, marking it as the first Argentine newspaper owned by a journalist. Following Cortejarena’s passing in 1921, Ángel L. Sojo elevated the publication’s status through exclusive reports and introduced Dante Quinterno's acclaimed comic strip Patoruzú in 1928.
In 1939, ownership transferred to Ricardo Peralta Ramos, who appointed Félix Laiño as director and updated the broadsheet format by incorporating additional illustrations. The newspaper experienced steady growth until its nationalization by President Juan Perón in 1947. Influenced by Eva Perón, La Razón achieved a daily circulation of 500,000 copies by 1952, surpassing the long-established leader La Nación and becoming the largest newspaper in Latin America at that time. After Perón was overthrown in 1955, the new regime initially maintained control of the paper but eventually restored it to the Peralta Ramos family following a successful legal appeal.
In 1964, new printing operations were inaugurated in General Hornos, securing La Razón’s position as Argentina's second most prominent newspaper after Clarín. Editor Félix Laiño retired in 1984 and was succeeded by Jacobo Timerman, who reduced the paper’s size and transitioned it to a morning publication. Nevertheless, a labor strike in 1987 resulted in its shutdown.
The Buenos Aires City Council acquired the financially troubled newspaper and relaunched it as a free evening tabloid distributed mainly at train and subway stations along with cafés. On December 27, 2000, the Clarín Group media conglomerate acquired La Razón, reinstating its morning edition in 2008.