Últimas Noticias
 |
|
| Type | Daily newspaper |
|---|---|
| Owner(s) | Robert Hanson |
| Editor-in-chief | Eleazar Díaz Rangel |
| Deputy editor | Danisbel Gómez Morillo |
| Founded | 16 September 1941 |
| Political alignment | Pro-government |
| Headquarters |
Caracas Venezuela
|
| Circulation | 300,000 (2013) |
| Sister newspapers | El Mundo Economía y Negocios, Líder en Deportes |
| Website | ultimasnoticias.com.ve |
Últimas Noticias is the highest selling daily newspaper in Venezuela. It was founded in Caracas on 16 September 1941 after the pro-freedom measures implemented by President Medina Angarita. It initially bore the name Diario del Pueblo (the people's newspaper), and was created by Víctor Simone D´Lima, “Kotepa” Delgado, Vaughan Salas Lozada and Pedro Beroes. Miguel Ángel Capriles Ayala acquired the majority of the shares in 1948. He is the current president of La Cadena Capriles, having assumed that position in 1998. On 16 October 2000 it was relaunched, adopting a more colloquial tone and aiming to be more of a guide to daily life. In mid-2002 it began printing in colour on every page. From 2004 to 2006 it launched four regional editions (for different areas of Greater Caracas) in addition to the national one. In 2013, the newspaper was sold to an "investment group" that was allegedly more sympathetic to the Venezuelan government for between $160-180 million.
It is known for its direct and lively presentation of news, with a strong emphasis on striking graphics and layout and an extensive use of photographs. Últimas Noticias at its outset was a tabloid consisting of only eight pages and costing just one cent. As of 2008, it published 170,000 copies a day (280,000 to 320,000 on Sundays). According to its own market studies 96.3% of its readers are from "social sectors C, D and E", the lower-income classes, and its supporters call it el periódico del pueblo (the people's newspaper). Seventy percent of its circulation is in greater Caracas, while the rest of the country accounts for the remaining 30%.
Exhibiting a strong emphasis on a striking appearance and graphic elements, it was originally divided into sections such as Hoy (Today), which covered national politics; Venezuela Adentro (Inside Venezuela), which covered domestic news; Cartelera Cinematográfica (box office); Vida de Juan Vicente Gómez (caricatures); El Cuento de Hoy (Story of the Day); El Rincón de la Mujer (Women's Corner); Crónicas del Ávila (pieces by various guest contributors); plus sections devoted to sports and other topics.
Ideologically Últimas Noticias is in the center-left of the political spectrum, and is friendlier to President Hugo Chávez than Venezuela's other two top dailies, El Nacional and El Universal. A 2005 survey of the newspaper's readership carried out by polling firm Datanálisis found that their most appreciated value was "independence," and the paper was perceived by readers in the following way:
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