In the first chapter of his New digital space «La Cosa Vostra-Manual for the Undecided»Fasano shares the path he has taken since, after 25 years at the helm of La República, he decided to leave to pursue a dream: the creation of a television channel that would represent the Uruguayan left and reach every corner of the country. This project, which he named Eutopía TV, became his personal mission. Despite having overcome numerous bureaucratic obstacles and having fulfilled all the requirements for the channel’s concession, his effort was met with resistance from the incoming government of Lacalle Pou.
The frustrated dream of Eutopía TV
The process for the creation of Eutopía TV was long and complex. Under the administration of Tabaré Vázquez, the government, in accordance with the law, opened a call for tenders for the awarding of television channels, in which Fasano presented his project. After demonstrating the financial, technical and programmatic viability of Eutopía TV, he obtained the long-awaited concession. However, his joy was short-lived. With the arrival of Luis Lacalle Pou to power, one of the first decrees of the new president annulled the concession granted to Fasanowhich cut short his plans to launch the channel, when he already had the equipment, lighting, television studios and much of the staff.
“The dream and the utopia were going to come true. But there is always a but in these things,” reflects Fasano, who remembers with bitterness how the change of government dismantled his project. The only option left to him was to lodge a protest before the Administrative Litigation Tribunal (TCA) and before public opinion, although to date the channel has not materialized.
New strategies in a digital world
Far from giving up, Fasano adapted his approach. After considering the possibility of founding an evening paper or a new daily, he realized that the media landscape had changed radically. The lack of evening distribution and the impact of new technologies made the project of a printed newspaper unviable, although his idea leaned more towards a specialized newspaper than a general one.
Thus, after the insistence of friends and followers, Fasano accepted. the challenge of entering the world of streaming and social networks. For a man who defines himself as “technologically illiterate,” this new format represented a significant challenge. However, he understood that it was the only way to continue his work in communication. «Life taught me that one must do what one can where one is, I don’t know any other morality»says the renowned journalist, pointing out that although the nature of social media can be “contaminated by fake news and subjectivism,” there is also room for critical reflection.
In this way, Fasano launched his weekly editorial space “La Cosa Vostra”, a name with history, as it was also the title of his columns in La República. Now, with the subtitle “Manual for the undecided”, Fasano seeks to provide clarity to voters who have not yet decided their vote in view of the national elections.
The power of questions
One of Fasano’s central reflections in this new cycle is his conviction that Questions, rather than answers, are the true source of wisdom.With the elections imminent, the communicator sets himself the mission of helping the undecided to find an informed answer to the big question: who to vote for? According to him, some 200,000 citizens have not yet decided how to vote, and he is now directing his efforts to them.
Fasano, always sincere about his political preferences, does not hide his desire for the Frente Amplio to triumph in the next elections. However, he stresses that his goal is not to convince people through empty slogans or barricade speeches, but through comparative data and rigorous analysis. “There are men and women who think and others who make others think. I consider myself one of those who try to make others think.”he says, reiterating his commitment to truth and credibility in his analyses.
A comparative analysis between two models
In In “La Cosa Vostra”, Fasano proposes a comparative approach between the two major political projects that are fighting for power in Uruguay: that of the Frente Amplio and that of the multicolour coalitionFor him, this comparison should not be limited to a review of the 15 years of government of the Frente Amplio compared to the 20 years of administration of the traditional parties that succeeded the dictatorship. “It would be like going hunting in a zoo,” he says, suggesting that the real comparison should be made between the 15 years of the Frente Amplio and the five years of the current government.
Throughout his analysis, Fasano intends to examine different aspects of the management of both models, from social and economic management to public safety and impunity. He also wants to address key issues such as the agenda of new rights and the ethical conduct of both administrations.
A space to think
With this new project, Federico Fasano not only seeks to influence the vote of the undecided, but also Offer a space for critical reflection in an increasingly polarized media landscapeFor him, communication remains a fundamental tool for social change, and although his voice now resonates in a digital format, his message remains the same: make citizens think so that they can make conscious and thoughtful decisions.
La Cosa Vostra thus becomes the new space from which Fasano will continue his fight for that age-old dream of justice, equality and freedom, with the same impetus with which he founded six newspapers, three radio stations, two television channels and several other media outlets throughout his life committed to social change and human emancipation.
