“The Cuban press is not standing still; it is fighting and innovating” 

“May the merit of our press continue to be, as it always has, to live up to the Revolution and to our people,” said the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Party and President of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, to representatives of the media, with whom he held a meeting on March 14, Cuban Press Day.

The Head of State shared with attendees key insights on the role of the media in today’s complex times, which, he said, must be viewed as an opportunity. "We now have,” he noted, “new technologies, websites, and social media, where there are no limits of space or time, as well as innovative tools such as artificial intelligence."

While emphasizing the breadth of opportunities available to the media today, he agreed with the media representatives (more than 80 colleagues, including executives, journalists, social communicators, and social media specialists—many veterans and quite a few young people) on the importance of strengthening the leadership of editorial boards, editorial committees, professional collectives, and all workers in the sector.

In light of declining print newspaper circulations, he said that these publications—including those transitioning to weekly formats—could limit their focus on daily news —prioritizing this in digital formats—and publish in the print editions texts offering a deeper introspection into our reality, more uplifting stories, lyricism, and other writings that not only satisfy the immediate need for information but also serve to be studied, preserved, and revisited.

He suggested taking advantage of the vast and unique historical record preserved in the archives of Cuban newspapers and magazines, which contain thousands upon thousands of photographs taken by the finest photographers of yesterday and today, unique printed editions of crucial historical moments of the Revolution, and articles by Cuban figures —including editorials written by Fidel— which are treasures that, in addition to being preserved, should be digitized and made available to the public, because there is great interest in them both in Cuba and abroad.

The meeting was attended by Roberto Morales Ojeda, member of the Political Bureau and Secretary of Organization of the Party’s Central Committee; Yuniasky Crespo Baquero, head of the Central Committee’s Ideological Department; Deputy Prime Minister Inés María Chapman Waugh; and Comrade Alfonso Noya Martínez, president of the Institute of Information and Social Communication.

Moderated by Ricardo Ronquillo Bello, President of the Union of Journalists of Cuba, the dialogue was attended by Tubal Páez, recipient of the National Journalism Award for Lifetime Achievement, among other recipients of the most important recognition from a profession called upon to continue playing a fundamental role in defending the Revolution and conveying the truth about Cuba.

While sharing ideas with the attendees, President Díaz-Canel Bermúdez emphasized that, at this time, when fuel shortages have led many people to stay in their communities, media collectives can resume or increase their interactions with their audiences in the neighborhoods.

“Let the people,” he said, “interact with you, and let you have a more vivid, more direct relationship with the population.”

PRESS IN TRANSFORMATION

At this Saturday’s gathering, held in observance of Cuban Press Day, the experiences accumulated by print, digital, television, radio, and news agency outlets were reviewed in the still-new process of transforming the Cuban press management model.

Journalist Yoerky Sánchez Cuellar, editor-in-chief of Granma newspaper, explained how the publication is establishing itself as a multiplatform media organization based on its website and social media presence.

It is a transformation that had already begun, but which accelerated in December with the approval of 16 agreements by the collective following discussions of the Government Program to correct distortions and revitalize the economy, which have put the media outlet in a better position to face the highly complex situation currently at hand, he noted.

"Our concept," Sánchez Cuellar emphasized, "is that Granma is a digital newspaper with a weekly print edition. We no longer work toward a daily deadline; our deadline is now 24 hours a day. This is both a challenge and an opportunity for us."

"But to do this," he added, "we had to shift away from a ‘print-centric’ mindset, so we’ve redirected all the specialized teams from print to digital, because there was no work structure geared toward digital."

At Granma, the editor-in-chief acknowledged, the newsroom’s organization had to be transformed to move toward digital, but this, he insisted, required a cultural transformation.

But now we are in a better position, and we are also working—he added—on revitalizing and preserving our historical memory and archives; on increasing foreign exchange earnings; and on developing renewable energy sources.

Among other initiatives, Granma is also increasing its social responsibility, including offering spots in its daycare center to neighborhood mothers who need childcare.

Journalist Randy Alonso Falcón, general director of Ideas Multimedios and Cubadebate, explained the organizational and editorial processes and the results of a multiplatform initiative that has been a pioneer in these transformations and is among the most successful in its implementation.

A leader in the Cuban digital space, this media organization has millions of subscribers and visitors both on its official website and on social media. In addition to operating its own media outlet, it provides services to third parties, which has enabled it to achieve financial stability and address some of its needs, including expanding renewable energy sources and increasing its employees’ incomes.

Alonso Falcón explained that Ideas Multimedios’ organizational experience has allowed it to move toward a model better suited to current media trends, with a self-funded development strategy.

He reported on how they have been finding solutions to the current constraints, some of which include—given the fuel shortage—journalists managing content and conducting their work from within the communities themselves, as well as shifting to social media, both because audiences are increasingly turning to these platforms for information, rather than official media sites, and because, due to power outages, www.cubadebate.cu is less accessible.

The discussion also covered the transformation of the press management model at Canal Caribe, Agencia Prensa Latina, and Radio Cubana.

THE CUBAN PRESS IS A LIVING PART OF THE REVOLUTION

In his summary of the meeting, after addressing issues related to the national situation, the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the Party and President of the Republic, Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, congratulated all workers in the Cuban press on March 14th.

In reviewing the comments made by various participants, he asserted that they demonstrated that "the Cuban press is not standing still; it is fighting, it is innovating."

Díaz-Canel discussed with attendees the role of the Cuban press "as an ideological and cultural front line in the current scenario of a sixth-generation war." It is a confrontation—he recalled, drawing on previous analyses—that unfolds as an ideological war, a cultural war, and a media and communications war; "therefore, you are on the front lines," he asserted. A front line—he argued—where we must make the best use of the communication tools that the hegemonic powers themselves have created to impose their hegemony.

"The Cuban press," Díaz-Canel asserted, "can never be seen as playing a passive role; the Cuban press has a significant, indispensable role in these times, in this struggle; therefore,” he argued, “the challenge is how we break that hegemony, and we must do so by relying on those transnational platforms they have created to dominate the peoples."

We—he emphasized—must be capable of breaking that monopoly the empire seeks to impose on humanity. "There are many truths they try to hide, and we must be capable of bringing them to light."

The Cuban president also spoke about the capacity and necessity of the press as a “vehicle of sovereignty.” He highlighted its role in education and in fostering media literacy among the population, so that people can distinguish truth from falsehood and counter manipulation.

"The media," he stated, "should not only be viewed as tools of social communication, but also as agents of sovereignty."

He also stated that "the press is a living part of the people." He praised its role in promoting popular participation, unity, the search for solutions, and popular oversight, as well as in spreading the positive experiences found in the country, while never failing to criticize what needs to be criticized.