Lucho Correa: "I would like to open the newspaper with the news that Colombia achieves a profound social change"

Rarely does a journalist approach an interviewee with so little data in his head. On this occasion, Lucho Correa (Bogotá, 57 years old) arrives here for being one of the 300,000 subscribers of EL PAÍS. An internet search yields other details about this unwitting protagonist, who happens to be one of the most recognized figures of graphic design in Colombia. But the news is imposed by force. The country lives these days pending a political plot that includes ingredients more typical of a Netflix series than real life. Illegal wiretapping, polygraphs, ambition, blackmail, audios and threats corner the Government of Gustavo Petro. Lucho Correa is suffering. He had hoped for the open opportunity for a reformist government, but now fears its failure. Just a few hours ago the second incendiary interview of the character of the moment was just known. Colombia's former ambassador to Venezuela Armando Benedetti was one of the president's closest associates, but now he threatens to blow everything up, including the government he helped create. Interestingly, Correa and Benedetti sat at the same school desks years ago. "He has always been a passionate person and that he goes out of his boxes, trusting himself to the truth comes from him does not seem to me," says the designer cautiously.

Question. What can you ask of the press in the midst of a scandal like this?

Answer. You have to be prudent and wait until you have all the information to make judgments. It is important that they provide all the information because it seems to me that the situation is changing hour by hour.

Q. Many customers come to you for ideas. How would you title this plot?

A. I do think this is complicated. If one were to take into account what has been revealed so far, then I would say that the president has to make a very strong turn to recover. But if the plot involves him in other issues, I would title it "the great disappointment."

Q. What hurts you most about Colombia?

A. That the first time he has the opportunity to have a reformist government, Colombianness and that way of doing things in politics that has brought us where we are has been able to do more.

Lucho Correa, in Bogotá on the 5th.Diego Cuevas

Q. He went to live in Spain for a few years, but returned. What did I miss?

A. I missed being able to do anything here. I was fortunate to work in Spain with who is considered the publicist of the twentieth century, Toni Segarra. I was working in an agency at that time that was a great reference of world creativity, I thought that trying to do that from here would be a greater challenge.

Q. And he succeeded.

A. For six years I was a partner and creative director of what was considered the most creative agency. And now with this company [LIP] I have been 20 years and I think we are the most awarded graphic design studio also in Colombia.

Q. When did you first become interested in journalism?

A. This is going to seem like an impressive monería, but the strong conscience was in Spain, where I arrived at the age of 21. I had two references, EL PAÍS and La Vanguardia, for eight years I bought them both every day. I was not subscribed because it was not the custom, it was more the fact of going to buy at the kiosk.

Q. Do you remember any news from Colombia that you heard about in Spain?

A. Of course, when they killed Pizarro [a former guerrilla who embraced democracy and was killed in 1990]. I read it in EL PAÍS and I had the cut stuck in the cork of my office for a long time, it seemed to me again that it was a frustrated opportunity.

Q. A year ago an office of EL PAÍS was opened here in Colombia. Have you felt that change?

A. The Colombia edition is my main information medium for national news, I am not subscribed to any other. Of the others I see the headlines only.

Q. Imagine if you were a director for a day. What news would you like to open the newspaper with?

A. That a profound social change has been achieved in Colombia.

Q. ¿ Do you think it can be produced?

A. It is not a day to ask this question.

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