Regional newspaper closed its operations due to the lack of raw materials

On August 31st, 2013, was the last time the Diario Antorcha circulated, the daily with the longest standing tradition in Anzoátegui state. The newspaper´s directors were forced to suspend its printing since they face difficulties in finding the raw material to print it on, such as plates, paper, film and inks.

 

This was informed to IPYS Venezuela by its director-editor, Antonio Briceño, who added that they are facing a tough financial situation which hinders them from paying the constant price hikes in these items. “One box of plates with 50 units, which used to last four days, two weeks ago cost 10 thousand bolivars (at the official exchange rate it is equivalent to 1600$). At the end of the month it went up to Bs 16 thousand (approximately 2500$), and to cap it off, the vendors are only dispatching one or two boxes at a time, because the prices increase each and every day. With these reduced dispatches we cannot have a decent stock to work with in peace for 30 days. And they warned us already that by next week they are going to sell them at Bs 30 thousand”.

 

Briceño hopes that this is a temporary closure, since he trusts that the national government shall take measures for the materials used in the press industry to be allowed to be purchased at the preferential dollar rate.

 

In Venezuela the foreign currency control policy for imports is ongoing. Since August 2012, paper for newspapers is in the list of non-priority items foreign currency is allocated for to import raw materials into Venezuela.

 

For now, the newspaper has filed a temporary precautionary measure in mercantile courts, to comply with legal requirements and also workers´ compensations. Diario Antorcha, which reached its 59 anniversary on August 14, had a staff of 30 employees, including seven journalists, some with more than 35 years´ trajectory.

 

The economic crisis had already reached this newspaper, which since its beginnings circulated in a standard format (the only one with those dimensions in Anzoátegui). Two years ago, due to difficulties to purchase paper they had to reduce the size to tabloid, and its 60 pages dwindled down to 24.

 

Ernesto Adrianza, a journalist working six years at the newspaper, told IPYS Venezuela that the media is going through economic difficulties since a few years now. “It has a huge debt with the employees, more or less since 2002. They owe us paid vacations, trust fund deposits, food stamps and other labor benefits”. He recalled that last year they had to close down from December 19 to January 15, also due to lack of supplies.

 

Diario Antorcha has belonged to the Briceño family since it was founded. For Antonio Briceño, newspaper companies are no longer viable in the country at the present moment, due to the alarming increase in the items to produce them and dwindling circulation.

 

This is the third newspaper that stops circulating in the past 30 days due to difficulties in purchasing paper for newspapers. El Sol de Maturín, in Monagas state, ceased to circulate on August 24, 2013, while in Zulia, circulation of Versión Final newspaper ceased, but managed to overcome its difficulty with the supply of paper 15 days later.

 

Media in several regions have confirmed to IPYS Venezuela the hardships encountered in purchasing paper for newspapers from national and foreign vendors.

 

Label: suspension, abusive use of the state´s power