Colombian singer Juanes will act as the director of his country’s main newspaper El Tiempo for a day, with fellow musicians Shakira and Miguel Bose contributing as columnists, local media reported Wednesday.
El Tiempo will release a special edition on September 23 dedicated to national reconciliation and peace. The event will follow on from the U.N.-declared “International Day of Peace” on Friday, September 21.
El Tiempo’s regular director, Roberto Pombo, regarded Juanes as, “a man closely identified with social causes and reconciliation.” Pombo says the initiative was inspired by a similar project by the British newspaper “The Independent”, in May 2006, when U2 lead singer, Bono, addressed the impact of AIDS in Africa.
Juanes will have two weeks to coordinate the content of the special edition. In a statement, the Colombian icon said he aimed to promote content that, “has a purposeful vision, is optimistic, inclusive and hopeful.”
Fellow celebrities Shakira and Miguel Bose will both write featured articles on undisclosed topics.
This project coincides with the commencement of the much-publicized peace talks between the government and FARC rebels, however Pombo conceded the idea had already been in development for three years.
