– [paulA Neves] My grandmother’s fire escape looked out on remnants of whimsy on landings across.
– [Marina Carreira] From a small village of poverty and modesty, leaving all they knew for a life they had only hear rumors about.
– [Jeffrey] The fact that 24horas is the longest running daily Portuguese language newspaper in the United States, is quite an achievement. This really is a spectacular collection. We’re very proud and honored that The Newark Public Library has been chosen for the repository.
– [José Carlos Adão] We will have the Portuguese communities memory and heritage preserved. It is very, very important, I think, for the Portuguese community and all the other people that have interest in our culture. In the name of the Portuguese General Consul, thank you and congratulations.
– [Victor Alves] Thank you. Thank you so much.
Victor Alves, Co-founder + Director at 24horas Portuguese Daily Newspaper
Newark, NJ is home to the most published Portuguese language publication in the non-Lusophone world. That publication is the daily tabloid 24horas – Portuguese Daily Newspaper. And the man responsible for its impressive run is Victor Alves: immigrant, entrepreneur, father, husband, grandfather and Jersey Great.
It is not by accident that we reached the milestone of publishing more than 6000 editions… I want to thank all the journalists and collaborators who helped us make this project real.
Victor M. Alves
Since 1999, 24horas – Portuguese Daily Newspaper, based in Newark, NJ, has served the vibrant Portuguese, Brazilian and Lusophone communities of Metro NJ/NY metro area with news and stories that impact their world. In February 2019, 24horas celebrated 20 years of publication – an impressive milestone for the only Portuguese daily newspaper printed in the United States, and the world record holder for any publication of its kind.
As part of this celebration, Victor Alves donated 20+ years of 24horas archives, numbering 6300 and counting, to The Newark Public Library, in order to be accessible for free for future generations. The newspaper donation was consummated and recognized at a special ceremony held at The Newark Public Library on April 25, 2019 – a highly symbolic date for the Portuguese. For his generous donation, as well as for 30 years of service to the Portuguese community, and 50 years of service to the Portuguese language and culture, Victor Alves, was honored with the Cultural Preservation Award by The Newark Public Library.
- This video was produced and directed by Igor Alves and Yuri Alves. It premiered at The Newark Public Library’s 2019 “Booked for the Evening” Gala on November 21, 2019. It is excerpted from an upcoming original documentary on 24horas Newspaper and Victor Alves.
About Victor Alves
Victor Manuel Cordeiro Alves is a citizen of the world, since his professional, social and family lives have spanned four countries on three continents. In his native city of Lisbon, Mr. Alves graduated with a degree in Business Administration.
In the 1960s, he was drafted into the military and sent to Mozambique. He developed a passion for motorsport, and raced competitively in rally circuits across Southern Africa. During that time, he began his entrepreneurial career by co-founding a successful import car company and a hotel equipment business. Mr. Alves then turned to his other vocation: media – collaborating with Mozambican publications and radio programs, including the Radio Club of Mozambique.
In the mid-70s, he left Mozambique due to the civil war, and returned to Lisbon, where he founded an advertising company that created one of the first discount cards (VIP CLUB) in the country. However, this time due to the social and political unrest following the April 1974 Revolution in Portugal, Victor emigrated once more: this time to Brazil, together with his wife Sonia.
In Rio de Janeiro, Mr. Alves’s car business background quickly landed him the position of Regional Manager of FIAT, only to again scratch his entrepreneurial itch by co-founding VMA – a car and motorcycle sales and repair company. In the late 80s, and for the third time, extreme political and economic unrest along with hyperinflation and violence in Brazil, pushed Victor to emigrate: this time to the USA, with his wife, Sónia Paula, and two young children, Igor and Yuri.
Settling in the Ironbound section of Newark, Mr. Alves became involved with several Portuguese-linked communication companies, namely RTP-USA TV, RTP INTERNATIONAL TV, RADIO PORTUGAL and the local production company TELEPROMO. In 1993, Mr. Alves founded STATUS MARKETING, Inc., which managed events featuring Portuguese artists and musicians across the Lusophone communities. The company helped make possible the globally broadcast Miss Portugal-America contests, arguably the most spectacular events ever organized in the Portuguese communities in the US.
During the mid-90s, Victor served as President of LAR DOS LEÕES – the Newark affiliate of SPORTING CLUB DE PORTUGAL. He participated in the Portugal Day Newark commission, under the aegis of the BERNARDINO COUTINHO FOUNDATION, for which he co-created the ENCONTRO Magazine. And Mr. Alves co-hosted the famous Portugal Day in Newark Parade, then the largest such event in the world, with over 600,000 attendees, and broadcast worldwide.
In November 1998, Mr. Alves co-founded 24HORAS, Inc., a joint-stock company comprised of businessmen and journalists, whose main shareholder was PRODIÁRIO S/A, owner of the daily newspaper, 24horas, in Portugal. In addition to local coverage, 24horas was able to feature the same day news stories as those printed in the mother edition in Portugal, by leveraging new internet technologies, editing software and the time differential. Thanks to its team and its thousands of daily readers, 24horas has become the most published Portuguese language publication abroad, with over 6,000 editions and counting. In 2019, as it celebrated its 20th anniversary, 24horas decided to donate its entire archive to The Newark Public Library, with the goal of making this valuable media resource freely available to the public.
Victor’s journey has come full circle. He recently returned “home” to Lisbon, Portugal, where he now spends most of the year, together with his wife and life partner, Sonia Paula… and on special days, with his four kids and his beloved grandson, Rafael Filipe.
CREDITS
Produced and Directed by
Igor Alves and Yuri Alves
Camera
Caroline Sincaruk
Gabriel Kurzlop
Yuri Alves
Editing
Caroline Sincaruk
Assistant Editing
Gabriel Kurzlop
Sound Recording
Victor Buitrago
Graphic Designer
Rochelle Anne Bernal
Performers – Musicians
Fátima Santos
Fernando Chuva
José Luis Iglesias
Performers – Poets
paulA neves
Marina Carreira
Special Thanks
24horas – Portuguese Daily Newspaper
Stellar Printing
The Consulate General of Portugal in Newark
Sport Club Português
Catas Restaurant
The Newark Public Library
Victor M. Alves
Sónia P. Alves
Jeffrey Trzeciak
Kirsten Giardi
Spencer Scott
José Carlos Adão
Paula Seca
Lá-Salette Araújo
Fausto Menezes
Ruben Dominguez
More 24horas – Portuguese Daily Newspaper
Full disclosure: Victor Alves is proud dad to DreamPlay co-founders Igor and Yuri Alves.
Jersey Greats | Original series
Extraordinary people who dare to dream big, and achieve beyond expectations.
UPWARD | Education and Success
Be inspired by stories that motivate and educate.
