Enrique Zileri facts for kids

Enrique Zileri Gibson (born June 4, 1931 – died August 24, 2014) was a famous Peruvian journalist. He was the publisher of Caretas, a very important newsmagazine in Peru. His mother, Doris Gibson, helped start Caretas.

Enrique Zileri was known for being brave. He ran the magazine as a "symbol of resistance" against unfair governments. He fought for freedom of speech and democracy. He won many international awards, like the Maria Moors Cabot Prize in 1975. But he also faced many challenges. The government sent him out of the country twice, and his magazine was shut down at least eight times.

The famous writer Mario Vargas Llosa called him a "defender of freedom." He said Enrique Zileri could never be bought or scared into silence.

Enrique Zileri Gibson: A Champion of Freedom

Early Life and Start in Journalism

Enrique Zileri Gibson was born in Lima, Peru, on June 4, 1931. His father was Manlio Aurelio Zileri Larco. His mother, Doris Gibson, was also a journalist. She helped create the newsmagazine Caretas in October 1950.

As a child, Enrique had a serious illness. He went to high school in the United States at Taft School. He was a very good student there. After school, he worked in advertising. Later, he traveled around Europe. He wrote travel stories for Caretas magazine during his trip. He called this time a "voyage of self-discovery."

Leading Caretas Magazine

In the mid-1950s, Enrique Zileri came back to Peru from Europe. He started working full-time at Caretas. Even before he joined, the magazine had already been shut down once. A leader named Manuel A. Odria closed it for "offending" him.

In 1962, Enrique became a co-director of Caretas with his mother. They worked hard to bring deep news stories and strong opinions to their readers. This made the magazine very popular. But it also made the Peruvian government angry.

Fighting for Press Freedom

Between 1968 and 1979, the government closed Caretas seven times. Once, it was shut for almost two years! Another time, it was closed for five months. Enrique Zileri called Caretas a "symbol of resistance." He meant it was a sign of fighting against unfair leaders and their attempts to stop free speech.

Because of his work, Enrique Zileri was sent out of Peru twice. First, to Portugal in 1969, and then to Argentina in 1975. He was even sentenced to prison for three years for criticizing government officials. But he was later forgiven and set free. Over time, Enrique took on more responsibility. His mother, Doris Gibson, fully retired in the early 1990s.

During the 1990s, Peru had a strong leader named Alberto Fujimori. Many TV stations and newspapers were paid by the government to support it. But Enrique Zileri and Caretas stood strong against this. He bravely showed the past of a powerful spy chief named Vladimiro Montesinos. He also spoke out against Fujimori trying to stay in power for too long.

Caretas faced problems, like a fine in 1992. The magazine also lost money because the government pressured advertisers. But Enrique Zileri's stand was proven right. In 2000, corruption scandals forced Fujimori to leave office. Fujimori was later found guilty of human rights abuses.

Awards and Recognition

In 1975, Columbia University gave Enrique Zileri the Maria Moors Cabot Award. This award is for excellent reporting on Latin America and the Caribbean. He later became a judge for this important award.

He also served as the president of the International Press Institute. This group works to promote and protect press freedom around the world.

His Family

Enrique Zileri was married to Daphne Dougall for 51 years. Daphne was from Argentina and was a talented photographer. They had five children together: Marco, Domenica, Diana, Sebastian, and Drusila. In 2007, Enrique Zileri gave the leadership of Caretas to his oldest son, Marco. He wanted to bring new, younger leaders to the magazine.

Later Years and Passing

From 2007, Enrique Zileri slowly gave up more of his leadership roles. He passed away on August 24, 2014. His death was due to health problems from throat cancer. The Prime Minister of Peru, Ana Jara, announced his passing.