The publication of Apuntes para una historia del periodismo lanzaroteño, an unfinished work by Agustín de la Hoz Betancort (Arrecife, 1926 - La Laguna, 1988), was made possible thanks to the initiative of the head of the Arrecife Municipal Historical Archive, who had previously promoted other editions by the author. This work, which came to light in 2018 with the support of the Arrecife City Council, joins a series of publications exploring the essence of the island.
“"Few, or almost none, for me none, have done as much as Agustín de la Hoz for Lanzarote in the field of literature and historical research; and so selflessly, so generously, without taking into account any gain, profit, or economic benefit. And here lies the merit, his main virtue, and therefore the human quality that I value above all other values in the essential condition of man."
Agustín de la Hoz's career was marked by an incessant search for the spiritual values of his homeland. His commitment to research and history led him to cross paths with numerous newspapers and journalists. For him, journalism was a form of history, a “religion” that allowed him to unravel the soul of Lanzarote, fragmented and dispersed in the work of its most illustrious figures, in its cultural heritage, and in popular wisdom.
From his early working days at the age of 13 in a shop in Arrecife and, later, aboard a fishing boat, Agustín de la Hoz became a man of culture who found his main means of expression in the press. He was editor and director of the weekly A.O.E. and collaborated in various publications, including Diario de Las Palmas and other Canarian newspapers of the fifties and sixties.
His work Lanzarote, published in 1962, was initially a journalistic chronicle and historical exploration before becoming a book. Throughout his career, he defended freedom of opinion and the need for journalism with its own voice, one that would not surrender to external influences or censorship. He firmly believed that the press should serve society, unmasking opportunism and contributing to the awakening of island consciousness.
“"History has the obligation to always tell the Truth. The newspaper does enough if it prevents lies."
In his analysis of local journalism, Agustín de la Hoz highlighted the struggle of print media for freedom and progress against caciquism and indifference. His work Apuntes para una historia del periodismo lanzaroteño, covering from El Crisol in 1858 to the early 20th century, is a testament to arduous research and an inexhaustible source for understanding the history of Lanzarote.
