- He stood out in political journalism in magazines, newspapers and television.
- He was going through a hard illness.
The political journalist and director of Revista Noticias, Edi Zunino, died at the age of 60 after going through a hard illness, as confirmed by the director of Editorial Perfil Jorge Fontevecchia this Thursday.
Zunino was born in Ramos Mejía on April 21, 1963. He studied journalism at the Instituto Grafotécnico and, in his youth, he was a member of the Communist Party. One of his first incursions into journalism was the magazine Retruco, which he founded together with some fellow students.
Zunino, who has a long career in the media, edited Noticias magazine and Perfil newspaper. In addition to having spent most of his career in the newsrooms, in recent years he has also gained notoriety with his participation in programs on América and A24 channels.
He also collaborated with his political columns in the media La Voz, Sur and the cooperative fortnightly Acción, among others.
In addition to his extensive career in the publishing house Perfil, and mainly in the magazine Noticias, he also did outstanding work in investigative journalism. He led the magazine’s teams that covered the alternatives after the murder of photographer José Luis Cabezas.
In addition, he published four books: “Patria o medios” in 2009, “Periodistas en el barro”, in 2013, and “Cerrar la grieta”, in 2015. He also published a novel: “Locos de amor, odio y fracaso”.
The journalist was going through a serious illness. In fact, he had not been seen on television for several weeks.
His last journalistic work was developed through a YouTube channel called “En el barro”, where he interviewed political personalities, and where he conducted his last interview three weeks ago with his son Manuel, who works in the public opinion consulting firm Proyección.
Fontevecchia gave the sad news live on air
“They just gave me very sad news, that Edu Zunino died, and I could not pay attention to what you were telling me”, said Fontevecchia, during a live interview. After remaining silent for a few seconds, he expressed: “It is a deep sadness. Director of Revista Noticias, associate director of Perfil, it makes me very sad.”
“Edi was a boy, he was the famous one who wired his body to record Cavalieri’s corruption in the Trade Union, I remember that perfectly well when I was in my early twenties”, Fontevecchia said on Radio con Vos.
His death generated strong commotion among his colleagues and also among political leaders who said goodbye to him with heartfelt messages in the social networks.
Javier Calvo, current director of the newspaper Perfil and also Zuni’s colleague at A24, said goodbye to him with an emotional message on X: “‘Hello Pichón’, Edi Zunino greeted me with a kiss when we crossed paths until his last days at América. We shared many years of work. We laughed, discussed and debated about journalism. Luckily I was able to hug him often lately. Hugs to the family. Chau Pichón”.
Ramón Indart also remembered him with great affection. “Chau Edi Zunino. An honor to have worked with you. My boss at Perfil. My partner at A24. Luckily I was able to tell you this in life. Always defending your journalists and standing up to pressure. Investigating with you was different,” wrote journalist Ramón Indart on the social network X, recalling that one of his favorite phrases in the newsroom was: “You publish. Then we ask for permission”.
Journalist and political scientist Rodrigo Lloret also remembered him in networks and did so with an anecdote from the ’90s. “An official offered Edi Zunino to pay him 1,000 dollars a month. The only thing Edi had to do was to tell him what was going to be the cover of Noticias every week. What did Edi do? He told him to go to hell and tell it in Noticias. That is journalism”, said Lloret, currently director of Perfil Educación, who assured that Zunino was “the best boss” he ever had.
Political leaders from different areas also mourned his death.
The head of the Buenos Aires Government, Horacio Rodríguez Larreta, lamented his death and pointed out that he was “a great person and an excellent journalist, who always defended his vocation with enormous responsibility and commitment”.
Meanwhile, the Argentine ambassador to Brazil, Daniel Scioli, pointed out: “A journalist whom I always admired for his professionalism and human qualities”.
“I deeply regret the death of Edi Zunino, a journalist who was always willing to engage in political debate”, said former Minister of Social Development Daniel Arroyo.