Página 12
| Company type | Daily newspaper |
|---|---|
| Industry | Media, Publishing |
| Founded | May 25, 1987 in Buenos Aires, Argentina |
| Founder | Jorge Lanata, Osvaldo Soriano, Alberto Elizalde Leal |
| Headquarters | Buenos Aires , Argentina |
Key people | Víctor Santa María (owner and president of Grupo Octubre) |
| Products | Newspaper, online news |
| Owner | Grupo Octubre |
| Website | pagina12 |
Página 12 (also presented as Página/12, Página|12 or Página12) is a daily newspaper based in Buenos Aires, Argentina. Established on 25 May 1987 by journalist Jorge Lanata along with writers Osvaldo Soriano and Alberto Elizalde Leal, the publication is presently owned by Grupo Octubre, a multimedia conglomerate headed by Víctor Santa María, who also serves as president of the Justicialist Party in Buenos Aires.
The inaugural president of the paper was entrepreneur Fernando Sokolowicz. Since 1991, the publishers have included Rosario 12, a regional supplement dedicated to the Rosario area. Internal research indicates that 58% of Página 12’s audience falls between 18 and 52 years old and predominantly belongs to middle and upper-middle socioeconomic segments (AB and C1/C2).
History
The newspaper's title derives from its original format of twelve pages, with the twelfth page specifically reserved for significant reports. Starting with a print run of 10,000 copies and an initial layout of sixteen pages—which rapidly expanded to double that size—Página 12 set itself apart through its progressive editorial line, comprehensive reporting, and analytical depth. Drawing inspiration from the French publication Libération, it offered a contrast to traditional Argentine newspapers that favored quantity over detailed analysis.
Its editorial staff included notable journalists and authors such as Horacio Verbitsky, Tomás Eloy Martínez, Osvaldo Soriano, José María Pasquini Durán, Juan Gelman, Eduardo Galeano, Osvaldo Bayer, Rodrigo Fresán, among others. From the very beginning, Miguel Repiso (Rep) contributed illustrations featured on the back page and various sections. Jorge Lanata initially directed the newspaper before being succeeded by Ernesto Tiffenberg.
In a 2007 interview, Lanata revealed that businessman Rudy Ulloa, closely associated with former President Néstor Kirchner, held ownership interests in the paper. Página 12 maintained a close relationship with the governments of Néstor and Cristina Kirchner, receiving considerable state advertising support. On its 25th anniversary in 2012, Cristina Kirchner publicly commended the publication for its ongoing engagement in cultural and political struggles aligned with Kirchnerism.
More recently, Víctor Santa María acquired Página 12 through Grupo Octubre. Utilizing union resources from SUTERH, Santa María developed Grupo Octubre, which also controls Diario Z, magazines such as Caras y Caretas and Planeta urbano, along with two radio stations.
Editorial stance
Recognized as one of Argentina’s leading newspapers and ranking fourth among news websites in terms of traffic, Página 12 has consistently positioned itself as a progressive and analytical voice since its inception. Frequently described as left-leaning, it has been labeled Kirchnerist by Clarín. Owner Víctor Santa María has stated in an interview that the newspaper has both critiqued and supported Kirchnerist administrations while steering clear of “militant journalism.” He also emphasized the absence of genuine media independence and journalistic neutrality in Argentina, noting that some outlets are “more objective than others.”
Beyond standard news coverage, Página 12 has uncovered numerous scandals and maintained a vigilant stance against governmental corruption, earning several accolades for its investigative work.
Controversies
In 2004, Julio Nudler, who led the economic section of Página 12, accused the Kirchner administration's chief of staff of corruption. Initially, the newspaper declined to publish his piece. Nudler claimed this was an act of censorship; ultimately, the article appeared accompanied by a clarification from Horacio Verbitsky addressing certain inaccuracies.
Following Jorge Bergoglio's election as Pope Francis, Página 12 resurfaced accusations regarding his conduct during the Dirty War. Given the Pope's widespread acclaim and political changes, Cristina Kirchner showed support for Francis, prompting Página 12 to remove these contentious articles from its online platform.
A 2012 comic strip satirizing a DJ within a Nazi concentration camp sparked backlash from the Simon Wiesenthal Center for minimizing the Holocaust's gravity. The publication subsequently issued a formal apology.
In July 2017, Aerolíneas Argentinas ceased distributing Página 12 on its flights due to outstanding payments from the previous year. The Argentine Newspaper Publishers Association (ADEPA) called on both sides to resolve the dispute promptly.
In 2018, the Polish League Against Defamation filed a lawsuit against Página 12 concerning an article about the Jedwabne pogrom, citing Poland’s contentious Holocaust legislation. The head of Argentina’s Asociación Mutual Israelita Argentina criticized the legal action as an attempt to silence historical discussion through censorship.
Awards
In 2007, Casa América Catalunya—an institution managed by Spain, Barcelona, and Catalunya—honored Página 12 with its annual Freedom of Expression award in recognition of its "rigor and professionalism" in promoting justice and human rights. The prize was presented by Spanish artist Joan Manuel Serrat, who emphasized the newspaper’s essential role in chronicling significant events and praised its journalists’ commitment, often undertaken despite personal dangers.