Ecuador: Daily Newspaper Closed, authorities intervene and liquidate publishing company

rsf.org reported the opposition daily Hoy has had to close because the authorities have intervened to liquidate the company that publishes it, Edimpres SA. The Office of the Superintendent of Businesses seized control of the company on 26 August on the grounds that it was unable to pay its creditors.

Hoy had already stopped producing a print version in June because of financial difficulties.

Edimpres received no notification that it was to be liquidated by the Superintendent of Businesses, its lawyer said. Staff learned this from an article in the state-owned daily El Telégrafo on 22 August. Just four days later, it was ordered to suspend all operations including publication of Hoy.

“The disappearance of a newspaper such as Hoy is a blow to pluralism in Ecuador,” said Camille Soulier, the head of the Reporters Without Borders Americas desk. “We are surprised by the speed with which this has happened. Could the authorities not have found a way to save the newspaper?” Read Article