Neither Communist nor Capitalist, a Journalist. International Journalism by Álvaro Cepeda Samudio from Barranquilla in 1948

Authors

Keywords:

Journalism, Palestine, Spanish Civil War, United Nations, Geopolitics

Abstract

This research article traces the international-themed journalism written and published by Álvaro Cepeda Samudio in 1948. That year in Colombia began the period known as The Violence due to the assassination of Jorge Eliécer Gaitán on April 9. However, the 111 columns the journalist wrote for El Nacional in Barranquilla focused primarily on four geopolitical themes: the UN and Palestine, Communism and Capitalism, Franco’s War, and the IX – CIA. Revisiting these themes in 2025, through discourse analysis, allows us to engage with and recognize a self-taught, humane journalism, committed to society, that scrutinizes power, uses simple language, and skillfully questions, exposes, and analyzes global political movements. At the same time, these columns are a lesson in journalism with historical value and contemporary relevance for students, young journalists and veterans of the former trade, and today profession.

Author Biography

  • Farouk Caballero Hernández, Universidad Autónoma de Bucaramanga UNAB

    Farouk Caballero Hernández
    Universidad Autónoma de Bucaramanga (UNAB)
    jcaballero752@unab.edu.co
    https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0435-5218

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Published

2026-07-29

Issue

No. 46 (2026): July-December

Section

Dossier Centenario Cepeda Samudio

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