Juan Antonio Gossaín Abdallah (born January 17, 1949) is a Colombian writer, journalist and novelist. Known for his distinctive journalistic style, he is one of the most renowned veteran journalists in the country.
Born in San Bernardo del Viento, Córdoba, he served as director of the RCN Radio network and has twice won the Simón Bolívar National Journalism Prize for best radio journalist.
Early life, marriage and family
Juan Antonio Gossaín Abdallah was born on January 17, 1949, in San Bernardo del Viento, Córdoba, to Juan Gossaín Lajud and Berta Abdallah de Gossaín (née Abdallah Lajud).
His father had migrated from Lebanon in 1940, settling in Lorica, Córdoba, at that time the main destination for migrants from Syria, Lebanon, and Palestine.
Gossaín began his career in journalism in 1971, while a public accounting student, after moving to Bogotá to work for the newspaper El Espectador, for which he wrote from his home in San Bernardo del Viento. He was hospitalized in 2012.
Career
Juan Gossaín started his journalism career writing for El Espectador newspaper from around 1968 to 1971. He later became Chief at El Heraldo, Barranquilla.
Gossaín worked as the director of the RCN Radio station for about 26 years, from February 12, 1984 to June 30, 2010. Gossaín retired in 2010.
Aside from radio journalism, Gossaín was responsible for writing several novels such as , , and . His writing often contained attention grabbing language that enhanced his storytelling leaving his audience in suspense, unable to put his work down. These qualities of writing led Gossaín to be viewed as a fabulist known as someone with the capability of creating exhilarating stories about different characters.
Awards
- The National Simón Bolívar Award in 1977, 1985, 1989 (Premio a la vida y obra en la modalidad de los medios electrÓnicos), 1990, 1991, 1995, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2003,
- Colombia-Spain Award for Best Journalist of the Year (Premio Colombia-España al mejor periodista del año)
- San Bernando del Viento