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Salvador Lew. Posted on Thu, Apr. 25, 2002 in
The Miami Herald
Radio Martí was founded in light of Cuba's struggle for democracy. It
was created to inform, entertain, offer ideas and promote the principles for
Cuba's freedom.
Since the station's debut in 1985, it has exposed the island to the truth.
It has been said that Cuba's history can be divided into two parts: before
and after Radio Martí. Before the station went on the air, there was
absolute censorship. Now, there is an open window to the facts.
On matters of information, Radio Martí transmits the news exactly as
it is. This is to say that the facts are portrayed with all of the basic
elements -- truthfulness, objectivity and thoroughness. There is no distortion
or manipulation of the facts. Federal regulators, as well as the ethics of
professional journalists who report the news, have confirmed this.
Radio Martí's commitment to fairness in its 17 years of existence is
overwhelming. It carries the message of democracy and freedom from the United
States to the Cuban people and other parts of the world where the station is
heard. It is an example of modern radio broadcasting, thanks to the
professionals who work here. It has a record audience, despite electronic
interference from the Cuban government. The station also transmits musical,
cultural, humorous and a variety of other programming.
Before I joined the station's administration, the audience circumstantially
dropped to 7 percent from 70 percent. However, after introducing new broadcast
programs in October 2001, the station recovered its traditional audience. This
fact has bothered Fidel Castro, his spokespersons and sympathizers. Indeed, the
enemies are stirred up.
On the aspect of ideas, the station encompasses the foundation of democracy
and freedom, diverse opinions and balanced debates so that audiences may receive
and analyze different ideologies and systems and doctrines of government. Radio
Martí presents the subjects that were taught at high schools and
universities before the Marxist-Leninist system was introduced in Cuba. This
opens up boundaries different from Cuba's official education, which creates a
monolithic ideology.
MANY CRITICS
Commentators, analysts, journalists, political leaders, human-rights
activists and philosophers from various ideological currents appear on Radio
Martí talk-show programs. In the federal mandate of promoting peace for
Cuba, those options are discussed.
There are many critics of Radio Martí for many different reasons.
Possibly a dozen out of 158 employees are dissatisfied, and their dissidence is
perfectly acceptable as their right. The dissatisfaction springs from several
things. Some employees have been reassigned to different positions within the
organization. No one has lost a job, something that I would never support.
Others are discontent due to complaints that they consider to be legitimate,
which I also respect.
Regarding reassignments, these are logical and sometimes necessary in a new
environment. These decisions are made in every agency to improve the outcome.
There is new leadership at the station, and there is a lot of work to be done.
It is natural that people don't like change.
When I started as director of the Office of Cuba Broadcasting last year, I
requested an increase in the volume of news, which is what the Cuban population
is demanding. It was increased from five to seven days. The news programs are
now longer and broadcast four times a day.
MORE COVERAGE
Further, there are informative bulletins presented every half-hour, each
lasting from five to seven minutes. Correspondent services were reinstated in
all parts of the world. There is now more air time to broadcast Cuba's internal
opposition and reports from independent journalists. With the new and dynamic
broadcasts, Radio Martí's microphones cover Cuba and the world daily, 24
hours.
When President Bush appointed me, he requested ''new management and strong
leadership.'' He also called on Radio and TV Martí to support Cuba's
internal opposition and independent journalists. That is precisely what we are
doing. Because this policy hurts Castro's tyranny, he has ordered a defamation
campaign against the station.
Radio Martí is heard in Cuba and has credibility. For this reason,
Castro wants to suppress the voice of truth.
Salvador Lew is director of Radio and TV Martí. | 
