By Ingrid Bachmann
The closure of Cambio news magazine and the termination of its two top editors are described by its owner, El Tiempo publishing group, as an economic decision, but the dismissed editor-in-chief and managing editor believe political motivations were at play. See this story in English by Colombia Reports.
Even if the closure was a business move, "the decision will certainly gladden the government [of Álvaro Uribe], which will have one less critic," concludes Juanita León, of La Silla Vacía.
Cambio's investigative journalism has made it very influential, Semana magazine adds. Cambio reached one of its historical high points last year with several accusations against the government. It will now become a monthly general interest magazine.
Cambio's former editor-in-chief, Rodrigo Pardo, suggests in an interview with El Espectador that trouble with the content influenced the decision. “The magazine stepped on many toes, week after week, which caused the Executive branch discomfort," Pardo said. Former Editor María Elvira Samper told La Silla Vacía: “There was trouble on the board of directors about whether we should do this investigative journalism."
Note from the editor: This story was originally published by the Knight Center’s blog Journalism in the Americas, the predecessor of LatAm Journalism Review.
