The official newspaper Girón announced this Friday the return of its analysis program Foco de Atención, promising to provide "keys, context, and direct analysis, without complications" on current affairs in the province, Cuba, and the world.
The promotional video, lasting just 18 seconds, has surpassed 13,400 views on Facebook, but the spotlight was on the comments from users who questioned whether the space would address the real issues facing the population or repeat the usual explanations of the official narrative.
Several internet users expressed doubts about the medium's willingness to report transparently and criticized the recurring use of the embargo as an explanation for the crisis.
"Will they tell the truth, or will they also blame the blockade and search for utopia on the horizon?" one of the commenters incisively remarked on the post.
The announcement comes at one of the most challenging times for Matanzas. During July, the province experienced power outages of up to 85-87 consecutive hours, with eight electrical substations out of service and 63 faulty transformers.
This situation is compounded by outbreaks of dengue and chikungunya, a buildup of garbage posing health risks, and ongoing issues with the supply of water and food.
The energy crisis even affected state media. A few weeks ago, the radio and television signal in the province experienced interruptions due to power outages, as reported by the official press system itself.
Skepticism towards Girón had already been evident weeks before. At the end of June, a publication about the designation of Matanzas as a "Prominent" province in the emulation for the 73rd anniversary of the assault on the Moncada barracks received more than 500 critical and ironic comments, with users questioning the recognition in light of the deterioration of basic services and the prolonged power outages.
"Are we really a prominent province?" several commentators asked, contrasting the official narrative with the difficulties they face daily.
The lack of trust in state media has been acknowledged even by the press apparatus itself. On July 16, during the ceremony of the National Journalism Contest 26 de Julio, official journalist Abdiel Bermúdez admitted that the official press still fails to make the population feel "reflected" in its content, a remark that aligns with the reception of the announcement regarding the return of Foco de Atención.
This self-critique contrasts with the stance of the leader Miguel Díaz-Canel, who in March 2025 stated that "the revolutionary press in Cuba is truly independent", a statement that international organizations deemed cynical.
The reality of the Cuban press is different. According to the Reporters Without Borders 2026 index, Cuba ranks 160 out of 180 countries in press freedom, the second worst in America, surpassed only by Nicaragua.
The Cuban Constitution establishes that all media is state-owned, making any independent journalism illegal or clandestine, and guarantees that no official media, including Girón, can question the structural political responsibilities behind the crisis that promises to be analyzed "without entanglements."
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