READERSWRITE

MY FRIEND DERECK

The launching of the Buenos Aires

Times, with a good part of the old ship’s crew on board, makes me intensely happy.

Beyond any doubt it will become a valuable addition to the Argentine press scene, particularly considering the poverty witnessed here in printed English-language journalism during these last years.

At the same time I cannot but feel a tinge of sadness because a very conspicuous member of the old crew is no longer with us. I am referring to My Friend Dereck (Foster). How happy he would have been to be able to contribute to this first edition!

Over the years he became the longest-lasting food and wine critic on the Argentine scene, dearly beloved and sought after by his loyal readers.

I write these lines in his honour and remembrance, hoping that his spirit, professionalism, honesty and so enjoyable humour will always be remembered by his old colleagues and those who enjoyed his columns.

And, to quote him: “A glass of wine with your meal is pleasurable and healthy. But see to it that the glass is large!” Harry Ingham City

LEARNING ENGLISH THE HERALD WAY

I became a reader of the Herald some years ago while I was studying English (a constituency which is often forgotten).

At the time it was a form of practising but now I simply enjoy reading the same news I read in Spanish in English – it’s like seeing it a different way (I guess there’s some explanation for that).

Anyway this lawyer hopes that your initiative thrives and prospers. Bruno Fabricio Gentile Rosario

A ROSE BY ANY OTHER NAME/A HARD ACT TO FOLLOW

James Grainger is right when he states: “it would be incorrect of us to claim ownership of the Herald.”

As Robert Cox points out in his article titled “What’s in a name?”, the last owner and executioner of that “great little newspaper” was Grupo Indalo, headed by Cristobal López.

But Robert Cox, Andrew GrahamYooll, James Neilson and Carolina Barros didn’t just arrive from Mars in a space-shuttle.

The four of them are former editors of the Buenos Aires Herald, spanning the years from 1968 to 2013. And Michael Soltys has been on the job since 1983 and the lead writer of the publication’s editorials from 1987 until the Herald’s demise.

So what is Mr. Grainger talking about?

All of these fine journalists – including himself – are the Herald! The same paper where now the Times’ Executive Director, Agustino Fontevecchia, started his career as a journalist. This means that there’s no prestige to be earned. It’s already there!

Of course, it’s not an easy moment for newspapers to be born and prosper in Argentina. But Jorge Fontevecchia is simply showing us he’s willing to accept the challenge because he’s sensitive to the grief felt by all the

Herald’s faithful readers and grateful for the help received in times of personal distress.

For all of us residing in Argentina, we now have a two-in-one bargain:

PERFIL and the Times. For English speakers both here and abroad, a media outlet that keeps them informed.

Either way, it’s up to all of us – both paper, staff and readers – to make the

Times as great as its predecessor. It can be done. Ildefonso Miguel Thomsen City

SHORT BUT SWEET

Dear friends, Welcome back to Argentina, and very good luck! Juan E. Demarco City