Anglophone Newspapers of Chile

In this exhibit, we examine three Anglo-Chilean newspapers. Each bears witness to the unique factors that shape the foreign language press, which can be defined as periodicals published by a colony living in a host country and written in a foreign language (rather than the national language of their place of publication). At the same time, each of our papers captures a significant moment in the development of the Anglophone press worldwide.

About this Exhibit

In this exhibit, we look at three Anglo-Chilean newspapers while paying close attention to each of the distinctive elements that influence the press in other languages. At the same time, we aim to emphasize how each of our publications represents a crucial phase in the growth of the Anglophone press globally.

Thus the earliest paper in our collection, The English Mercury (1843-44) focuses on mercantile news. The second, the Valparaiso and West Coast Mail (1867-74), introduces local and international news as well as sections intended to appeal to a more diverse family readership as the Anglo-American colony grew and developed. The third, the The Star of Chile (1904-06) not only provides meaningful news focused on the by-now highly develop Anglo-American colony in Chile, but also demonstrates an increased level of hybridity: advertisements are often in Spanish or for Chilean (rather than British) firms; articles or headlines may include occasional Spanish words; and, by the end of the paper's run, entire pages may be printed entirely in Spanish. This growing linguistic diversity indicates either that the newspaper sought a readership beyond the English-speaking colony, that the colony itself was beginning to use more Spanish, or both.

Both the Valparaiso and West Coast Mail and the Star address audiences beyond Chile as well, seeking to share the host country's beauty and cultural diversity through drawings and photography as well as coverage of its arts and cultural life.

From the 16th century, Spain forbade its competitors from trading with the Spanish colonies in South American coast. While professing neutrality in Chile's fight for independence from Spain, Britain had long sought trading rights, so British merchants were on the spot as soon as Chile claimed independence on September 18, 1810.

Before independence, printed materials like newspapers were generally produced in Spain and imported into Chile. After independence, Chile gained freedom of speech and of print.

The first newspaper to be published in Chile was the aptly-named Aurora de Chile (dawn of Chile), launched on February 13, 1812 and changing its name to El Monitor Araucano on April 1, 1813. The longest-running daily newspaper in Chile, El Mercurio, was founded by Pedro Félix Vicuña on September 12, 1827. The Chilean press quickly flourished, charting the development of the new republic and reflecting a multiplicity of voices and national cultures.

Among these voices were those of the British colonists. From its beginnings with just a few merchants in the 1810s and '20s, the British colony developed rapidly over the first half of the nineteenth century. From the 1840s, the colony began to produce newspapers written in English and edited by the British inhabitants in Chile, although often published through Chilean printing houses like that of the Mercurio alongside the more widely-distributed national press.

Publishing History

Our second newspaper collection in this archive is the Valparaiso and West Coast Mail, which enjoyed a much longer and more successful run, from its first issue on Aug. 17, 1867 to its final issue on June 24, 1871. This newspaper was again printed in the publishing house of a prominent national newspaper, this time the Patria's printing office, and appeared the “day before the sailing of each Mail Steamer for the North" in 1867. This last proclamation is especially interesting as it indicates that editors intended a wider distribution for the newspaper, to other English-speaking colonies along the Pacific coast of South America.

After its first year, the VWCM moved to “William J. Cox, Office 44, Calle Aduana" (from no. 23, 1868), then moved again to “Albion Printing Office. Cox & Taylor" (from no. 69, 1869), and finally to the “Albion Printing Office. Cox & Taylor, Calle San Agustín #26 y 28" (from no. 162, 1871).

The VWCM published 275 issues over 7 years, both tracing and bearing witness to the fact that since the 1840s, the Anglo-Chilean colony was far more developed and also demanded much more information about local and international news in English, as compared to the near-exclusive focus on shipping and trade news that we see in the news of the 1840s.

Coverage and themes

By comparison with the Valparaiso English Mercury, the VWCM includes a more detailed report of vessels arriving and leaving at Valparaiso port, as well as market prices and shipping conditions. Indeed, its coverage often emphasizes the interconnectedness of local and international news; for example, in issue no. 43, the editors explain that the high prices of freight reflect Chile’s war debts, and they debate possible pathways for economic reform in the country (unsurprisingly, the British editors' advice usually focuses on free trade).

In addition to market reports, many issues run long feature articles, often focusing on trade, both within Chile and with other countries.

Each issue of the VWCM also includes consistent coverage: there is always a section about local news in Valparaíso, as well as news about surrounding provinces, current political events in Chile, etc., and another section on foreign news related to Chile.

For example, the August 17th, 1867 issue runs a story on policy changes from the Chilean Senate and House of Deputies, including the abolition of imprisonment for debt, missions to establish a diplomatic relationships with Mexico, etc. Its provincial news section presents discussion of the Chile-Bolivia border conflict and the benefits each country would gain, as well as a story on the potential for mining of rich mineral deposits in the Carizzo Alto area, in Huasco, a province located 400 miles from Valparaíso.

Smaller local news sections contain information on crime, assassination, local businesses, theatre, and other cultural reportage.

The newspaper's advertisements

Coverage and themes

Finally, the VWCM devotes two or more pages of each issue to adverstisements, marking a crucial turn in the business plan for the Anglo-Chilean press: from a reliance on subscriptions to the cultivation of relationships with local businesses. These advertisements provide variety to the newsprint with attractive and illustrative images, such as ads picturing the spring horse races, clothing, foodstuffs, freight shipping services, and many other varieties of local merchants.

The newspaper also follows the informal conventions of its day: individual news articles within the same category (for example provincial, local, or foreign news) do not always have distinct titles. Overall, the newspaper provides detailed and useful information about the development of the Anglo-Chilean colony as well as the increasing hybridity of Chilean national culture.

References

Valparaiso and West Coast Mail, vol. 1, no. 4 (Valparaiso, Chile), September 10, 1867, front page. Accessed July 22, 2020.

"Australian and Chilian Four Trade," Valparaiso West Coast Mail, vol. 3, no. 6 (Valparaiso, Chile), June 25, 1869. Accessed July 22, 2020.

Valparaiso and West Coast Mail, vol. 1, no. 1 (Valparaiso, Chile), August 17, 1967, advertisement section. Accessed July 22, 2020.

The Star of Chile Cover

Publishing History

Our third and final featured newspaper, which is also my personal favorite, is the Star of Chile. This newspaper contains 102 issues and ran for just two years, from August 4, 1904 to September 15, 1906, when its apparently successful run was cut short by a massive earthquake that devastated central Chile on August 16, 1906. Following the earthquake, the paper managed just four issues--one of them just four pages long instead of its usual 12--before shuttered its doors forever, with apologies to its faithful readers.

The newspaper was published and edited by "L. Westcott (printer at his press, Imprenta Inglesa), Robert H. Reid (Editor; former sub-editor of the Chilian Times and correspondent for the London Times) and M.J. Kean (head of business and literary departments, pen name Pepito).” However, in Issue no. 56 (Sept. 2, 1905), the editors announced that Reid would be returned to Britain:

The well known member of the British Colony Mr. Robert H. Reid leaves this coast by the SS. “Orita” on Tuesday next.
Mr. Reid has dedicated his whole life to journalism both in the Old Country and in Chile, where he has resided for upwards of fifteen years. He was for ten years sub-editor of our contemporary The Chilian Times and was subsequently one of the proprietors and Editor of THE STAR OF CHILE, at the same time occuping [sic] the posts of correspondent for the London Times and Reuter’s Agency.

Mr. Reid is an enthusiastic sportsman and founded the well known walking competitions to Quilpue, while everything in the way of athletics had his hearty support.

We wish Mr. Reid a pleasant visit to Buenos Ayres and a happy return to his native land from which he has been so long absent. (p. 6, col. 4, Sept. 2, 1905)

In its two short years, the Star of Chile produced representations of nearly every aspect of Chilean life, including but not limited to landscapes, culture, cookery, a children's corner, art, fashion, sport, humanity, philosophy, politics, and economics. The newspaper received support from many patrons and its advertisements also reflected Chilean culture of the time.

Chilean Advertisements

By the 1860s, the Anglo-Chilean colony of Valparaíso had begun to leave the homogenous foreign enclave of Cerro Alegre, moving north into Viña del Mar and beyond and beginning to form deeper connections with Chilean culture. While all three of our newspapers are written primarily in English, in the Star of Chile we see, for the first time, greater linguistic hybridity. The newspaper's first and final pages often include adverstisements in both English and Spanish. Moreover, the influence of the French, German and other foreign colonies in Chile begins to appear, with advertisements for wine, pastries, etcetera. On September 16, 1905, for example, alongside an advertisement for a traditional Scottish whisky, we see an advertisement titled, in Spanish, “Arestizalbal."

Newspaper Layout

The newspaper always begins with two pages of advertisements, demonstrating the chief source of its income. After that, the first pages devoted to editor-produced content generally focus on the major headlines of the week: economic and political happenings such as elections, bills coming before the Senate, the Chilean nitrate and mining industries, commerce and trade, and major natural disasters, epidemics, or other issues of immediate concern to a wide public.

Thus the paper's first pages focus on events that impact Chilean development: economics, politics, border disputes etcetera. For example, the issue in Dec 3, 1904 opens with a section creatively titled “Mining Intelligence” and including news about the mining industry, targeting readers interested in business and industry.

Next, the paper moves on to more sensational news that might appeal to a general reader. Many titles in this section are deliberately intriguing or suspensful, such as “Whistler in the Witness-box” or “the forgotten tragedy," to compel readers to keep turning the paper's pages to finish one story and begin the next.

Poetry and literature

In addition to its news content, the Star of Chile included more creative offerings, alternating between prose writing and poetry to evoke emotions from the audiences. One unique and recurring feature, titled "Under the Lone Star," often opens with lines of poetry to draw readers into the column. In the issue of August 4th, 1906, this section begins with inspiring verses depicting bravery and patriotism, then introduces readers to the tradition of the "diez y ocho" or Sept. 18th, Chile’s national independence day. In other issues, "Under the Lone Star" opens with lines on horse racing, politics, and many other topics.

With increasing frequency from 1905 onwards, the paper also runs serialized stories, often in just two or three parts but sometimes continuing for longer. Some of these are clearly lifted from British papers, but others are claimed as "Written especially for the Star of Chile."

A piece of educative article in the Star of Chile

Cultural and social reportage

Demonstrating the increased diversity of its readership as compared to that of earlier English-language newspapers, the Star of Chile also included regular columns on the arts, music, fashion, cooking, education, and other topics that seem targeted to women readers. The paper even developed an interactive section called the “Children’s Corner," which soon began to print letters from child readers. Other regular features include a "Ladies' Column," updating readers on the latest fashions and community events while sneaking in occasional discussions of feminism, and "High Class Cookery," providing recipes focused on local and seasonal foods. The editors also provide reviews of past musical and theatrical performances, as well as notices of upcoming events together with ticket information to encourage attendance.

For contemporary researchers and general readers, a particularly interesting feature is a double-page spread at the center of most issues and featuring photographs or drawings of landscapes, historical monuments, important buildings, notable figures of the day, indigenous Chielans, and more.

Below are just a couple of the many images that appeared in the newspaper.

The Star of Chile sport news - Footbal team

Pacific Steam Navigation Company - Aug 6, 1904

References

Star of Chile, vol. 3, no. 47 (Valparaiso, Chile), July 05, 1905, front page. Accessed July 22, 2020.

Star of Chile, vol. 2, no. 18 (Valparaiso, Chile), December 03, 1904, 2. Accessed July 22, 2020.

"Mining Intelligence," Star of Chile, vol. 2, no. 18 (Valparaiso, Chile), December 03, 1904, 1. Accessed July 22, 2020.

"Street Scene in Valparaiso on The 31st Match, 1866," Star of Chile, vol. 2, no. 17 (Valparaiso, Chile), November 26, 1904, 8. Accessed July 22, 2020.

"Children's Corner," Star of Chile, vol. 3, no. 26 (Valparaiso, Chile), January 28, 1905. Accessed July 23, 2020.

"Women, the Grudge," Star of Chile, vol. 4, no. 94 (Valparaiso, Chile), January 02, 1906. Accessed July 23, 2020.

The National Football Team of Santiago - Club Athletic Union from Star of Chile (Valparaiso, Chile), n.d. Accessed July 23, 2020.

Publishing History

The Valparaíso English Mercury was published by British editors in Valparaiso at the press of the oldest Chilean daily, El Mercurio. Intriguingly, the parallel titles indicate a close partnership between British and Chilean publications. Founded in 1843, the English Mercury is the oldest of our three Anglophone newspapers. The inaugural edition was printed on Saturday, Dec. 16, 1843, and its final edition on Saturday, March 2, 1844.

In the first issue's editorial, the editors offer their view of the functions to be served by a newspaper written in the native language of a foreign community abroad. In every issue, the English Mercury provides extensive information about trade and the market, both within the country and on an international scale. Sample stories include, but are not limited to, coverage of colonial expansions relevant to British readers in informal empire: France's efforts to annex Tahiti, treaties between Britain and China in relation to Hong Kong, etc.

The English Mercury also covered material more immediately relevant to British interests in Chile, providing extensive information about vessels coming in and out of the port, trade prices, the new technology of steamboats with potential to boost Chile’s trade, developments in British-owned business in Chile, and the affairs of residents' mother countries, which included Scotland, England, and to a lesser extent Ireland and the United States.

Vessel movement report

While its coverage becomes increasingly diverse as the newspaper's run continues, the English Mercury is short and rarely contains advertisements. Instead, the inside matter of the newspaper generally consists of lists of vessels arriving and leaving the port, quantities and prices of goods for import and export, and similar shipping news.

General news

Before its sections on business and trade, the newspaper usually opens with general news of Valparaiso. For instance, the English Mercury on Dec. 30th, 1843 informs readers about violent storms happening at the Valparaiso port and related news on refugees from the hardest-hit areas. Although the newspaper is informative in many respects, its content is quite simple and it ended after just one year (1844); an editorial in its final issue explains that the editors are obliged to suspend publication due to the lack of patronage from the mercantile community. The final issue hints tantalizingly at an increase in cultural reportage on the Anglo-Chilean colony had the paper continued, adding new sections on music and religion.

References

"List of Vessels in Port, March 2, 1844," Valparaiso English Mercury, vol. 1, no. 12 (Valparaiso, Chile), March 02, 1844. Accessed July 22, 2020.

Table of Market Imported and Exported Goods, Valparaiso and West Coast Mail, vol. 1, no. 1 (Valparaiso, Chile), August 17, 1867, 3-4.

Accessed July 22, 2020.Note to Subscribers, Valparaiso English Mercury, vol. 1, final issue (Valparaiso, Chile), February 24, 1844. Accessed July 22, 2020.

Note to subscribers