How a Colombian Newspaper Survived Dictatorship by Rebranding as an Intermission

Entertainment · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: When General Gustavo Rojas Pinilla shut down El Tiempo in 1955, the newspaper did not simply disappear. Instead, its owners launched a clever substitute called Intermedio. By framing the regime as a temporary play, they kept their staff employed and their voice alive until the dictatorship finally collapsed in 1957.

Founded on January 30, 1911, by Alfonso Villegas Restrepo, El Tiempo began as a modest operation printing 300 copies on borrowed equipment. It quickly became a powerhouse of Colombian journalism, particularly under the leadership of Eduardo Santos Montejo, who purchased the company in 1913. Santos transformed the paper into a central pillar of the Liberal Party, wielding immense influence over national politics and the ruling class throughout the 20th century.

The newspaper's resilience was tested during the mid-century period of intense political violence. In 1952, a mob burned its offices, forcing a brief suspension. The situation worsened under the dictatorship of General Gustavo Rojas Pinilla, who demanded a front-page apology for the paper's coverage of a murder case. When El Tiempo refused, the regime ordered its indefinite closure in August 1955. The paper’s response was a masterclass in defiance: it launched Intermedio, a publication that used the same font and style as its predecessor, signaling to readers that the current political climate was merely a brief, unwanted pause in the nation's democratic life.

Following the fall of the dictatorship in 1957, the public celebrated by tearing down the Intermedio sign to reveal the original name underneath. El Tiempo resumed publication, eventually becoming a cornerstone of the National Front, a bipartisan agreement that alternated power between Liberals and Conservatives. Over the decades, the paper evolved through technological leaps—from manual lead typesetting to high-speed rotary presses—and expanded its reach through regional supplements and digital platforms.

Today, the newspaper remains a dominant force in Colombian media, now owned by the economic group led by Luis Carlos Sarmiento Angulo. While it has undergone numerous design changes and ownership shifts, its history remains deeply intertwined with the country's political evolution. From its 1983 time capsule, intended for opening in 2052, to its ongoing transition into new headquarters, El Tiempo continues to document the nation's trajectory while maintaining its status as a leading voice in the region.

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