Arturo Schaerer

Arturo Schaerer Heisecke, (Asunción, Paraguay, October 7, 1907 — Asunción, Paraguay, December 17, 1979), was a renowned Paraguayan journalist and entrepreneur.

His Life

Born in Asuncion, his parents were Mr. Eduardo Schaerer, President of Paraguay between 1912 and 1916, and Mrs. Matilde Heisecke. He was grandson of Santiago Schaerer (Jakob Scharer Kunzli), a Swiss colonizer from Vordemwald, Aargau, and Karl Wilhelm Christian Heisecke Heinrichs, a native of Hamburg, Germany and consul of the Austro-Hungarian Empire and The Netherlands in Paraguay. He was married to Maria Angelica Ayala Cabeda, Uruguayan and daughter of Araminto Ayala, General Consul of Uruguay in Paraguay, and Maria Angela Cabeda, daughter of Rafael Cabeda, renowned Brazilian political, liberator of slaves and great exponent of the Federalist Revolution in Rio Grande do Sul - Brazil. He had five children, Myriam Schaerer (married to Carlos Ruiz Apezteguia), Adalia, Arturo Rafael, Araminto and Eduardo W. Schaerer.

Journalism and Legacy

His first studies were conducted in Asuncion. He continued his studies at the National University. At December 31, 1925, his father Eduardo Schaerer founded the newspaper La Tribuna (Paraguay), which thereafter and for more than five decades would be the badge of the Paraguayan press. He started in journalism that day. After a while he lived in Buenos Aires, Argentina where he worked in the newspaper La Razon for further training in journalism. After the death of his father, he took over the administration and direction of the newspaper La Tribuna.

In 1940, following the death of President José Félix Estigarribia, General Higinio Morínigo became President. Morínigo began a persecution against many politicians and illustrious citizens of liberal extraction. The persecution to the independent press closed it La Tribuna several times. Under General Alfredo Stroessner's dictatorship, La Tribuna continued to exist under similar circumstances and was constantly threatened. Schaerer had to resort many times to ambassadors and international contacts to keep the newspaper running. The continuing existence of La Tribuna bothered and worried the dictatorial government.

Despite the political unrest and the persecution to which La Tribuna was subjected in the following decades, the newspaper grew and consolidated as one of the most respected newspapers of the continent. La Tribuna had agencies in many countries and grew from having 2,000 daily copies in the times of its founding, to more than 70,000 by the year 1965, being that value until today greater than the current daily circulation of Paraguay. He also attempted to introduce the first television channel in Paraguay, before the National Television System, but the government did not grant permission. In 1953, all this difficult and arduous work for an independent press and opposition to totalitarian regimes in which was immersed Paraguay earned Arturo Schaerer and his newspaper the oldest international journalism award, the Maria Moors Cabot Prize from Columbia University, New York.

Last Years

Arturo Schaerer remained as Director of La Tribuna until May 15, 1972, he was succeeded by Mr. Carlos Ruiz Apezteguia, journalist and husband of his daughter Myriam Schaerer and intense partner and manager of La Tribuna for more than two decades. In 1983 La Tribuna, with other owners, step by becoming the newspaper Noticias. Arturo Schaerer died in Asuncion on December 17, 1979.

Awards and recognitions

International Journalism Award Maria Moors Cabot - Columbia University - 1953