He Today newspaper celebrated yesterday the 43rd anniversary of its foundingin an atmosphere of healthy camaraderie and enthusiasm of its managers and employees, an event led by the president of the Corripio Group, Jose Luis Corripioalong with their children Manuel and Jose Alfredo Corripio Alonso and the director of this newspaper, Welcome Alvarez Vega.
“In these 43 years I can say that the newspaper has overcome all the difficulties and vicissitudes of Dominican history with absolute success, thanks to the employees and directors,” said Mr. Corripio Estrada, at the event held in the conference room of the building that houses the newspapers Hoy, El Nacional and El Día.
He added that the newspaper Hoy, founded on August 11, 1981has recovered from all the adversities that have arisen.
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“I want them to know that the recognition I have to give them is not for the financial part, but for the journalistic part, for how important it is for the newspaper,” he said.
He added, “I hope that we will have more favorable conditions than at present, because 43 years ago I thought it was very remote that I would be able to speak in this room at the age of 90, in the presence of all of you.”
“Thank you for being here, as I wanted to. I wanted to know to what extent I was needed and I saw that you insisted so much that I said: well, I will go to accompany you no matter what, because that is what I want to do; but it is good to know that you also wanted me to come,” said Corripio Estrada, who shared with executives and collaborators with enthusiasm.
The businessman thanked all responsible for the success that Hoy has had so far: “the first success we have is us.”
He stated that the most valuable thing for a company is its employees.
“Some people say that I am not very keen on praising things that are 90% done, but that is not so common in the business world,” he said.
He said that, “when I acquire a company or I was acquiring one, I always told the promoters who were going to be in charge of the administration, tell me what good things this new operation has that we are going to do with this new business, that we are going to build, what good things it has, what bad things it has; because, generally, it turns out that good things happen by pushes, very quickly and with a lot of work, but bad things come spontaneously and smoothly.”
He pointed out that, “this newspaper has no chance of going backwards. The steps it has already taken can count on the support, not only of me, but of the entire family, of my children, as a family unit, that the newspaper Hoy will continue to be the product of the personal initiative of all of us.”
While, Welcome Alvarez Vegathe newspaper’s director, thanked everyone for attending the 43rd anniversary celebration. “We are reaching another year of the newspaper that has had a responsible presence and synergy with the new times.”
“Thank you very much to the president, the administrator and collaborators for joining us. Also to all the colleagues who, although they are not present, are doing a great job,” said the executive.
He said, “I always say that building a newspaper is a team effort and we are all important. From those who work in the workshops, those who distribute the newspaper, those who take it to the towns and municipalities of the capital, journalists, photographers and designers.”
He praised the support of the administrative staff “who give us the support that our salary offers, who support us in everything we need to work in the best possible environment.”
In this regard, he stated that, “everyone contributes so that we have a newspaper like Hoy. So, I am grateful to everyone. I hope that we continue to move forward, we are still in a transitional period; but we will emerge victorious with the talent of each one of you.
The investigative journalist Minerva Isa, who has worked in this medium since its foundation in 1981, spoke on behalf of the staff. He said that today he has faced these difficult times with courage and integrity, “in which we have gained confidence in the future.”
He added that, “the most important thing is its imprint and its innovative spirit. The human team of before and now, which has allowed the newspaper to survive in the midst of so many vicissitudes, in the midst of the conjunction of economic crises and, above all, technological changes.”
“I thank God that in the midst of a different society, Hoy has survived without losing its values and independence, without losing the most valuable thing that a journalist or a media outlet can have: credibility.”
