Hierro was a Spanish evening newspaper published in the city of Bilbao between 1937 and 1983. Belonging to the Press Chain of the Cadena de Prensa del Movimiento, it constituted the official organ of FET y de las JONS in Biscay.
History The newspaper Hierro was founded shortly after the city of Bilbao had been occupied by the Nationalists. The first issue was published on July 5, 1937.Daniel Sueiro, Bernardo Díaz Nosty (1985). History of Francoism II. The Corruptions of Power, Argos Vergara, p. 37 The Falangist writer José Antonio Giménez-ArnauOlmos, 1997, p. 40. was appointed as its editor —and would be its first director—while José Vicente Puente was editor-in-chief.Garitaonaindía Garnacho et al., 1990, p. 497.
In its early days, it coexisted with another newspaper of the single party, El Correo Español, which was launched on July 6 as the provincial organ of FET y de las JONS.Garitaonaindía Garnacho et al ., 1990, p. 509. However, this coexistence did not last long, as in April 1938 this newspaper merged with El Pueblo Vasco to form El Correo Español-El Pueblo Vasco. After this, Hierro remained the only Falangist newspaper in Bilbao. It would eventually consolidate its position as the FET y de las JONS organ in Biscay.Díaz Morlán, 2001, p. 265.
Initially, Hierro used the facilities and machinery of the former newspaper Euzkadi,Juan Montabes Pereira (1989). The State Press during the Spanish Political Transition, Madrid: CIS, pp. 18-19 the official organ of the Basque Nationalist Party (PNV), which had been seized by the Nationalists. Later, its headquarters moved to the former offices of the newspaper El Liberal, owned by the socialist leader Indalecio Prieto."The building that housed the newspaper 'Hierro', returned to the heirs of Indalecio Prieto", El País (May 28, 1985) During the Francoist dictatorship, the newspaper became part of the Cadena de Prensa del Movimiento,Javier Ugarte (1998). The transition in the Basque Country and Spain. History and memory, University of the Basque Country, p. 206José A. de las Heras (2000). The press of the movement and its advertising management, 1936-1984. University of Malaga, p. 20 coexisting in Bilbao with other newspapers such as La Gaceta del Norte and El Correo Español-El Pueblo Vasco. Hierro did not traditionally enjoy wide circulation among the population—at its peak in 1945, it barely exceeded 20,000 copies.
Under the direction of Julio Campuzano, an attempt was made to implement some modernization, but it was unsuccessful. After Franco's death, the newspaper Hierro entered a period of sharp decline. Integrated into the state- owned media organization Medios Social del Estado (MCSE), the government decided to close the newspaper due to continuous financial losses and its small readership. On February 14, 1983, the newspaper published its last issue"Three newspapers belonging to the MCSE went out on the street for the last time yesterday," ABC (February 14, 1983), p. 39 and was shut down.Jesús Timoteo Álvarez (1980). History of the media in Spain: Journalism, image and advertising, 1900-1990, Ariel, p. 439Ramón Zallo et al. (1995). Cultural Industries and Policies in Spain and the Basque Country, University of the Basque Country, p. 200
Directors Among others, the newspaper's directors included José Antonio Giménez-Arnau, José Molina Plata, José Luis Banús, Julio Campuzano and Laureano Muñoz Viñarás.Ossa Echaburu, 1999, p. xiv.
Notes
External links Hierro in the Prensa del Movimiento Library
Bibliography
References