Today, in 2019, the corporate media is more powerful and the resources available to mount campaigns against Cuba greater, but the purpose of the United States is the same: destroy the Revolution.

During the luminous January of 1959, following the triumph of the Revolution, Cuba’s nascent government was fulfilling one its moral commitments: bringing to justice the terrorists, criminals, and torturers of the Batista dictatorship who had caused the people so much pain and mourning, amidst a ferocious media campaign to discredit the trials, orchestrated by the United States, where many of these murderers had already taken refuge.

Fidel immediately perceived Washington’s objective, thinly veiled behind the lies and manipulation.

First, on January 13, 15, and 16, in public appearances, he recalled how the U.S. press and government had ignored the crimes of the Batista dictatorship and, after the revolutionary victory, denounced measures taken against Batista’s henchmen.

The people, who not only asked for but demanded justice, gathered in front of the Presidential Palace, a million strong. Thus, Operation Truth was launched, with some 380 foreign journalists on hand, plus many diplomats, and other guests.

Fidel addressed the crowd, and asked, “Those who agree that justice should be administered, those who agree that the minions be shot, raise your hands (Unanimously, hands are raised). Gentlemen, representatives of the diplomatic corps, journalists from across the continent, the jury of a million Cubans, of all beliefs and social classes, has voted.”The world recognized this vote as the grand jury of the people, saying yes to revolutionary justice. It was January 21, 1959 and the Revolution had the people’s support.Fidel added: “I do not answer to any Congressman in the United States or any foreign government. I am accountable to the people, first of all, to my people.”He was referring to a group of U.S. Congressmen who opposed – with what right? – the prosecution of Batista’s war criminals and requested that the State Department intervene in the matter.This was the pretext for launching economic sanctions, first the suspension of the sugar quota, then the commercial blockade, and the possibility of sending troops considered.

January 22, in Havana’s Hotel Rivera, Fidel held what he called the world’s largest press conference, Operation Truth, regarding the public trials of Batista’s henchmen. An unrelenting media campaign against Cuba was unleashed by the Associated Press, United Press, Inter-American Press Society, and several Congress members.

Nonetheless, as an article by Juan Marrero noted, upon returning to their countries, many of the journalists who came to Cuba to cover the trials were not allowed to publish their reports, and some became friends of Cuba, although this position would cost them their jobs.

(Granma)

It’s bad enough to be so reckless with such dangerous rhetoric. But when this is all accomplished through the shoddiest of “reporting” – mindlessly repeating what anonymous intelligence officials tell journalists to say without a whiff of evidence – then it’s clear that the same journalistic pathologies that led to front-page reports of Saddam’s nuclear stockpile and alliance with Osama bin Laden continue to shape corporate journalism today, particularly at NBC and MSNBC.

(Source:theintercept.com)

During a workshop on Communication and Media at the 24th Meeting of the Forum of Sao Paulo, the Latin American news agency also convened an important meeting of journalists and international media in Havana on January 21 and 22.

Jorge Luna, director of Social Communication at Prensa Latina, stressed that it is a meeting to cover the major professional problems that threaten current and future generations of journalists.

Dangers of Latin American journalism, alternative media and globalization and the use of new technologies are some of the issues that will be addressed by the specialists, he said.

These debates will take place in the framework of the commemoration of the 60th Anniversary of the founding of Prensa Latina, an agency that emerged after the realization of ‘Operacion Verdad’ (Truth Operation), which brought together, in 1959, 400 journalists to know the reality of Cuba, targeted by hostile campaigns from international agencies.

The workshop was attended by dozens of specialists from the region, who agreed on the need to coordinate the communication actions of the popular forces against the media campaigns of governments and right-wing media.

(Prensa Latina)

The director of the International Institute of Journalism Jose Marti, Ariel Terrero, led the debate with the presentation of the paper ‘The Press Model Cuba Dreams With.’

Terrero pointed out the need for socialism to build a more truthful, attractive and higher-quality press than in capitalism, in line with the information needs of human beings.

In this regard, he urged the media and its professionals to commit themselves to a model capable of timely reporting to the people and defending the national identity and culture, independence, sovereignty and dignity of Cuba.

Several delegates to the congress, installed yesterday at the Havana Convention Center, intervened to highlight the importance of reflecting the reality of the country and its people in a critical and constructive manner.

They also addressed the need for access to sources that guarantee the disclosure of information relevant to society.

In this regard, they called for a greater presence in the media of officials linked to sensitive sectors and issues of high social interest.

Other participants in the forum, which brings together more than 260 delegates from across the country, called for the promotion of a deep, ethical and professional journalism, framed in the process of updating Cuban socialism.

The 10th Congress of the UPEC -an organization that brings together almost 4,000 workers in the sector- culminates this Saturday after two days of debates, focused on the recently approved Communication Policy of the State and Government.

The Communication Policy has among its principles the ratification of the social ownership of the media and the public nature of the broadcasting and telecommunications services.

In the same way, it insists on the right of people to information, communication and knowledge, and prioritizes access to information and communication technologies.

(Prensa Latina)

Other issues that will be under discussion are the use of social media and ways to handle the continued defamation campaign against Cuba and false news reporting.

Participants in this event will work in five committees: UPEC functioning, Ethics and communication, Media aggression against Cuba, Innovation and new technologies, and Content management.

According to the program, the UPEC National Committee will be presented, and after the initial debates, the Statutes and the Code of Ethics will be put to vote.

Delegates will also elect the Union’s president and approve the plan of action for the next five years.

The Congress will be dedicated to the historical leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro; the 55th anniversary of UPEC (founded on July 15, 1963); and Antonio Molto, late president of the Union who passed away in August 2017.

(Prensa Latina)