Venezuela's National College of Journalists to Honor El Nacional for 80 Years of Resilience

The National College of Journalists (CNP) in Caracas will present the "Diploma CNP DC, Caracas" award to the newspaper El Nacional on June 27, coinciding with Venezuela's Journalist's Day. This honor celebrates El Nacional's more than 80-year legacy and its enduring role in informing the public.

The CNP's board approved the distinction on June 2, acknowledging the newspaper's consistent efforts since its founding and its perseverance through decades of evolving challenges in Venezuelan journalism. The college cited El Nacional's "bravery, integrity, independence, and resilience in keeping channels of citizen expression open against adversity, honoring the country's democratic values."

Founded on August 3, 1943, by Henrique Otero Vizcarrondo and Miguel Otero Silva, with poet Antonio Arráiz as its first director, El Nacional aimed to be a platform for diverse ideas. It quickly became known for its innovative design and its embrace of Venezuela's leading intellectuals. Over its history, the newspaper featured prominent figures like Arturo Uslar Pietri, Mariano Picón Salas, and Rómulo Gallegos, establishing itself as a key information source and influential publication in Venezuela.

El Nacional was also a pioneer in digital journalism, launching its website in 1995 and developing a digital edition, becoming one of the first national newspapers to transition online. In recent years, the paper has navigated legal battles, blockades, and the loss of its physical headquarters, leading to the cessation of its print circulation. Despite these hurdles, El Nacional continues its journalistic work and maintains its presence among Venezuela's leading media outlets.