One of the most interesting and crucial phenomena noticeable on Cuba these days there is the origin of independent journalism. It had its beginning and cause in 90’s when Cuba suffered from severe crisis called the Special Period. The significance of independent journalism can be compared to the culture of samizdat and second circulation present in the communist history of Middle and Eastern Europe countries as well as former Soviet Union.

Apart from growing repression caused by the state authorities individual journalists have come across another serious problem in their work. The most difficult task seems to lie in reaching Cuban audience on the island. Many residents of Cuba have hardly heard of independent journalists. Sparse press enunciations in Granma, official press agency of Communistic Party of Cuba and a main journal since recently, have always presented them as American “paid imperialist agents” or “vermin”.

Independent journalists publish in the foreign press and recently also on the websites of various organizations, including ours: SOLIDARNI Z KUBA.PL.

In the face of total monopoly of the state authority on the media, the biggest obstacle is to reach readers’ attention in the country, a typical phenomenon in totalitarian systems. Cuban Penal Code stipulates a wide range of restrictive penalties for merely being an independent journalist, which is considered to be a criminal offence. That is a case even if journalists persuade they are not engaged in politics but are just interested in writing and informing.

Such regulations have been introduced to frighten and hush up the opposition of independent journalists as well as to punish anyone cooperating with the US.

At the moment on Cuba despite the climate of constant and escalating repressions there are around 20 active independent press agencies. Their announcements and articles can be followed on the websites of CubaNet, Nueva Prensa Cubana, Cata de Cuba and others.

The first independent press agency Agencia de Prensa Independiente de Cuba was founded by Nestor Baguer in 1992.

Journalists together with those without newspaper experience or reportage preparation describe events displaying repressions, mood of the public and most drastic cases of everyday life. Typical work of journalists often interlaces with economic or political analyses of independent economists.

On the website of SOLIDARNI one can follow current articles of various Cuban figures, such as Miriam Leivy – wife of political prisoner or Oskar Espinoza Chepe – an independent economist and journalist released on parole because of poor health condition.

Miriam Leiva

Oscar Espinoza Chepe