Cásper Líbero

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Cásper Líbero
Born	(1889-03-02)March 2, 1889 Bragança Paulista, São Paulo, Brazil
Died	August 27, 1943(1943-08-27) (aged 54) Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Occupation	Journalist

Cásper Líbero (March 2, 1889 – August 27, 1943) was a Brazilian journalist and media entrepreneur. His innovations in journalism and commitment to ethical reporting made him a pivotal figure in Brazil’s media landscape.

Líbero was born in Bragança, São Paulo, to Honório Líbero, a doctor and republican politician, and Zerbina de Toledo Líbero, a local figure. He moved to São Paulo at a young age. Líbero graduated with a bachelor's degree in Legal and Social Sciences from the Faculty of Law at the University of São Paulo at the age of 19. Although he briefly practiced law, serving as an attorney for the Mato Grosso Treasury, his interest in journalism soon drew him away from the legal profession.

Líbero began his journalism career as the head of the Rio de Janeiro branch of O Estado de S. Paulo, one of Brazil's leading newspapers. At the age of 21, he founded Agência Americana, a news agency in São Paulo focused entirely on national news. He co-founded the newspaper Última Hora in 1911.

In 1918, at 29 years old, Líbero acquired A Gazeta, an afternoon newspaper in Brazil. He introduced modern technologies, such as rotary presses imported from Germany, replaced the telegraph with teletype. he pioneered new engraving and printing techniques, including color printing. This enhanced the quality of the newspaper, and also improved its distribution.

In 1918, at the age of 29, he became director and owner of the afternoon newspaper A Gazeta, modernizing it and transforming it into one of the largest press organizations of the time. To this end, he imported rotary presses from Germany, replaced the telegraph with the teletype and implemented new engraving, composition and graphic printing techniques, the first in color in Brazil. At the same time, he implemented a new dynamic in the transportation and distribution of the newspaper, enabling copies to reach readers in record time.

In 1932, he was one of the leaders of the Constitutionalist Revolution. In 1939, he inaugurated the Palácio da Imprensa, as the headquarters of the newspaper A Gazeta would later be called on the old Rua da Conceição, now Avenida Cásper Líbero.

Between 1940 and 1941, he presided over the National Press Federation (FENAI-FAIBRA).

He created a supplement especially dedicated to sports, focused on football coverage, called A Gazeta Esportiva, and was the creator of the Saint Silvester Road Race.^[1]

When he died in a plane crash in Rio de Janeiro, in which the then archbishop of São Paulo, Dom José Gaspar d'Afonseca e Silva, also died, he left, in accordance with his will present in his own will, a communications complex that is administered currently by the Cásper Líbero Foundation. This complex currently brings together TV Gazeta, Rádio Gazeta and Gazeta FM, the Gazeta Esportiva portal, the Faculdade Cásper Líbero and the Grupo Cidadania Empresarial.

He is buried in the São Paulo Obelisk, where the remains of leaders of the Constitutionalist Revolution of 1932 rest.^[2][3]

Son of Honório Líbero, doctor and republican politician, and Mrs. Zerbina de Toledo Líbero, a very respected lady in Bragança, Cásper Líbero, moved to the city of São Paulo.

At the age of 19, he graduated with a bachelor's degree in Legal and Social Sciences from the Faculty of Law of the University of São Paulo. As a lawyer he only worked for two years. He was attorney for the Mato Grosso Treasury.^[4]

A little earlier, he worked as head of the branch of the newspaper O Estado de S. Paulo in Rio de Janeiro, until then the Brazilian capital. At the age of 21, in the city of São Paulo, he created Americana, a pioneering agency in 100% national news.

At the age of 23, he founded, together with other partners, the newspaper Última Hora, which circulated in the city of Rio de Janeiro.

Then, at the age of 29, on July 14, 1918, Antônio Augusto de Covello, the third owner of the newspaper A Gazeta, decided to sell it to Cásper Líbero. He became director and owner of the newspaper.

Cásper modernized the newspaper by implementing new technologies, installing a new dynamic in its distribution, and managed to organize it in a way that made profits, while promoting correct and ethical journalism. However, the success of the newspaper “A Gazeta” was still not enough. He intended to create a communication complex.^[4]

He then created A Gazeta Esportiva, a newspaper dedicated to sports

Cásper Líbero, was one of the leaders of the 1932 revolution. After the revolution, Cásper Líbero went into exile in the United States and soon after in France.

In 1934, he created the sound version of “A Gazeta”, which was broadcast on Rádio Cruzeiro do Sul, which was broadcast on the program Grande Jornal Falado d’A Gazeta.

In 1939, Cásper Líbero inaugurated the Palácio da Imprensa to house the new facilities of A Gazeta, at Rua Conceição, 88 (current Av. Cásper Líbero).

Cásper, passionate about sports and a great supporter of various sports, created the traditional Saint Silvester Road Race, which takes place every year on December 31st. He also created the July 9 Cycling Race, which pays homage to the Constitutionalist Revolution of 1932. In addition to other events such as the São Paulo Swimming Crossing, which takes place on the Tietê River and the Brazilian University Games.

In 1943, Cásper invested in radio, thus acquiring Rádio Educadora Paulista (currently Gazeta Online), which was a radio station in São Paulo.

On August 27, 1943, Cásper was traveling on the VASP “Cidade de São Paulo” plane, which crashed into the Naval Academy Tower, near Guanabara Bay, in Rio de Janeiro. The accident was fatal, killing not only the journalist but also the other passengers. The Archbishop of São Paulo Dom José Gaspar was also on the flight.^[4]

Before his death, Cásper Líbero wrote a will to ensure that his assets should be destined to the creation of a foundation with the aim of, using quality education and means of communication, being able to build a more just and developed society.

The Cásper Líbero Foundation manages his assets, and in accordance with his wishes, created the first Journalism school in the country, the Cásper Líbero College. TV Gazeta, which was already part of his plans, was also one of the legacies he left behind.^[4]