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Read the headline, it seems the most illogical thing in the world, doesn't it? Well, no. Since the beginning of this month, there has been extensive coverage – in independent media, of course – regarding the definitive separation from his job and from any official press outlet of the Cuban journalist José Ramírez Pantoja from Radio Holguín.
What was the "greatest" fault of this communicator? Ramírez Pantoja fully published on his personal blog the words spoken by Karina Marrón, Deputy Director of the newspaper Granma (the press organ of the Communist Party of Cuba) during the Upec National Plenary, on June 28th of this year.
Marrón's intervention at the event was published in excerpts by some official media outlets on the island, and even summarized in a report by the National Television News.
The sanctioning entities accused Ramírez Pantoja of having recorded the intervention “without possessing the necessary consent and approval,” of having published the official's words on his Facebook page “despite not having any indication to cover the event, thus violating the information policy for all media outlets, which states that works must have a social interest and critiques must be approved in advance by the Director of the media outlet,” as explained by the communicator himself in an interview on Cartas desde Cuba, a well-known blog by journalist Fernando Ravsberg.
Next, we leave you with the interview published today by Ravsberg:
This week, the definitive separation of colleague José Ramírez Pantoja from Radio Holguín and consequently from any official press outlet was confirmed. His offense was publishing in full on his personal blog the remarks made by Granma's deputy director, Karina Marrón, from which only selected excerpts had been presented in the national media. Here is our conversation with José and his views on what happened. If the authorities enforcing the sanctions wish to express their perspective, we are also open to that.
What did you study and where have you worked?
I studied for a degree in audiovisual communication at the Holguín branch of the Instituto Superior de Arte, now the University of the Arts (2000 – 2005). In 2000, the CMBF station hired me as a correspondent in Holguín, and upon my graduation, it arranged for me to take a diploma course in radio journalism. In 2006, I was hired by Radio Holguín and became a member of the Union of Journalists of Cuba. Between 1998 and 2005, I worked as a journalist in the Cultural Communication Department of the Provincial Directorate of Culture.
Why were you fired from your job?
For posting on my personal blog (www.verdadecuba.blogspot.com) the speech by Karina Marrón González, deputy director of the newspaper Granma and member of the national committee of Upec, at the Upec National Plenary on June 28, 2016. I participated via videoconference, in my capacity as president of the Upec Base Delegation of Radio Holguín.
Did you secretly record the intervention?
No, on the contrary. I took out my recorder in front of everyone present, moved forward to where the television was, and set it to record six interventions in front of its speakers without any of the event's officials in the province showing disagreement.
When the intervention appeared on your blog, had no one published it?
Yes. On June 28, the website www.cubaperiodistas.cu, the portal of the Cuban Journalists' Union, published a report that included excerpts from Marrón's speech. Later, extracts also appeared on TV.
What were you trying to achieve by making the entire intervention public?
Upon seeing that the Television News reported on the Plenary and that the Upec website had also published excerpts of Karina's speech, I concluded that it was suitable for publication. I decided to transcribe it in full and post it on my blog with the fundamental aim of showing the world that in Cuba, journalists are capable of engaging in serious and responsible debate at the highest level. I also published it with the intention of generating a discussion in line with the essence of the speech to provoke controversy and the exchange of opinions, which are always so necessary.
What does the head of your media outlet have to do with you posting on a personal blog?
This is one of the contradictions in this case. How is it possible that the director of a media outlet has to approve what is published on journalists' personal blogs? Whose blog is it then? In my case, the management claims that when a journalist publishes on their blog or on social media, they do so on behalf of the outlet they work for. This is quite a controversial perspective.
What are the rules for posting on personal blogs then?
If they exist, they have not been made known.
What do they argue to request such a drastic measure as permanent separation?
The body of the measure states: "The reference colleague, when participating as a guest in a videoconference held on June 28, 2016, as part of the National Plenary of the Union of Journalists of Cuba, recorded without having the necessary consent and approval, journalist Karina Marrón, the deputy director of the newspaper Granma. On that occasion, she made a critical intervention, evaluating issues related to the functioning of the organization and its results over the past year, expressing her personal opinion on the information policy and the work of young journalists, as well as the potential impact of the announced economic measures. The undersigned merely transcribed Karina Marrón's comments in full, and despite not having any indication to cover the event, published her intervention on his Facebook page, thus violating the information policy for all media outlets, which stipulates that works must have social interest and critical pieces must be pre-approved by the Director of the media outlet."
What was the outcome of the appeal you made to the Labor Justice Authority?
On August 12, the president of that body verbally informed me that my appeal had been denied. According to the rights granted to me by law, I can file an appeal with the Municipal Court for labor matters in response to this decision. I now need to hire a lawyer and continue the process until it concludes with the judge's determination.
Were you explained why they decided to uphold such a severe sanction?
In the document I received on August 15, it supports the administration, considering that the Plenary of the Upec is deemed official information, even though the organization's own website and NTV published everything related to the Plenary. The argument from the Organo concludes with the following Martian sentence: “What the enemy must hear is nothing more than the very voice of the attack… That is Homeland in the press. It is a soldier.” Undoubtedly, the Organo confuses the name of the publication with the term Homeland. I am very dissatisfied with the ruling of the Organo.
What do you plan to do now on a legal and personal level?
A nivel legal, voy a apelar ante el Tribunal Municipal para lo laboral según me corresponde por derecho. En lo personal, estoy muy decepcionado por todo lo que ha sucedido, por la manera tan torcida con que ha sido manejado el asunto, y por no contar con el apoyo en primer lugar de mi entidad y luego del Sindicato y de la Upec. Mientras dure el proceso, debo buscar cualquier empleo para subsistir. Con una medida disciplinaria como esta, me será bastante difícil encontrar trabajo aunque la ley dice que me pueden contratar en cualquier medio de prensa. La pregunta es: Which director would dare to hire me? Perhaps I might find a position in the non-state sector, especially if I'm working in a trade rather than a profession.
How do you view the work of the Cuban press, and what would you change?
There is a lot to unpack here. A clear example of this is the disciplinary measure that I believe has left a very bitter taste in the industry. In my opinion, the press in Cuba needs greater autonomy to truly take its rightful place.
Los cubanos necesitan de una prensa menos triunfalista, reunionista o de cobertura de actos, más cercana a la realidad del país. Just a few days ago, compañero Julián González was removed from his position as Minister of Culture. Has the Cuban press published the reasons that led to this removal?
In my opinion, the press, in pursuit of its primary mission to inform as an inalienable right, is above all here to tell the truth, no matter how harsh it may be, and to delve into the issues affecting individuals, to expose wrongdoings. It is not meant to follow leaders around so they can speak about their achievements.
The Cuban press needs to stop being rosy and sweet; however, what journalist would be willing to face a situation like the one I am currently enduring, a situation that clearly calls into question the “No to secrecy” and “We have no fear of different opinions or disagreements,” both ideas put forward by comrade Raúl Castro?
Image taken from: http://tellado.es
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