By WILLIAM WEST in The Age
THE death of Antonio Fontan, named by the International Press Institute as one of the "heroes of press freedom", ends a critical chapter in the battle for freedom of the press around the world.
Fontan, editor-in-chief of Spain's Madrid daily newspaper from 1967 until 1972 when it was forced to close by the Franco government, refused to back down when the fascist regime repeatedly tried to silence the newspaper.
During that period, Fontan continued to publish pro-democracy material and to criticise the government.
As a result he was prosecuted 19 times and fined 10 times for a range of articles, including those championing civil liberties and defending democratic principles.
The paper had to cope with large losses when it was shut down for four months in 1968. Eventually the Franco government threatened to take steps to close the publication permanently unless Fontan was replaced by a journalist close to the governing Falange party.
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Fontan's stand was vindicated when democracy was restored in 1975 and Spain's Supreme Court overturned the order forcing Madrid's closure, forcing the state to pay damages.
In the democratic elections that followed, Fontan ran for the Senate as a member of the Union de Centro Democratico coalition party, became the first Senate president of Spain's democracy and helped to draft Spain's 1978 constitution which legislated freedom of information and expression. Fontan then served as a government minister for three years.
In addition to his roles in the media and government, Fontan played an important role in training young journalists.
He established the country's first university school of journalism at the University of Navarra, a university under the guidance of Opus Dei, of which Fontan was a member.
His role in opposing the Franco government, which numbered members of Opus Dei, was seen in Spain as a confirmation of the political freedom of Opus Dei members.
To read the full article, please see The Age.
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