Miami's Cuban Connection

New Times: Miami Column Informed Cuban Press

Cuban Goblins at the Miami Herald?

On September 8, The Miami Herald published an article“10 Miami journalists take U.S. pay” that purported to break the news of local journalists being paid by Radio Marti. But several days earlier, Reinaldo Taladrid, a commentator on Mesa Redonda, the Cuban government’s prime time political TV show, had spoken briefly of the Herald’s investigation.

How was this possible? A Castro agent at One Herald Plaza?

No. Taladrid had simply cited an article that was on the August 22 edition of the Miami-based Web site www.radio-miami.com. The article, signed “El Duende” (The Goblin), referred to “a rumor in journalistic circles” about “an open investigation of some colleagues in Miami” who work for private media companies and Radio and TV Marti.” It noted that working for both “is considered a conflict of interest as well as a flagrant violation of journalistic ethics.”

The man responsible for the article is journalist Max Lesnik, the 75-year-old director of Radio-Miami, who writes and delivers on-air commentaries as himself and, in a dis-guised, slow-motion voice, as El Duende on WOCN (1450 AM). “Information arrived at the El Duende Section from a certain journalist who learned that the Herald was doing that investigation,” Lesnik says. He declined to identify his source, but said it was not Herald reporter Oscar Corral, who wrote the explosive September 8 article.

“I think [El Duende] circulates inside Cuba a lot,” Lesnik offers, noting that he knows many journalists in Miami and Havana, including Taladrid and the rest of the Mesa Redonda TV show cast. A Havana-based reporter for the government-run Cuban newspaper Granma, speaking confidentially, confirmed that Taladrid had taken the item from the El Duende section of the Radio-Miami website. — Kirk Nielsen

http://www.miaminewtimes.com/blogs/?p=74

Society of Professional Journalists "Profoundly Disturbed."

Excerpt of SPJ statement:

"The South Florida Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists is profoundly disturbed by reports that journalists received pay from Voice of America and Radio and TV Martí.

            "SPJ believes that “journalists should be free of obligation to any interest other than the public's right to know.” That is set out in our Code of Ethics, which also states that journalists should avoid real or perceived conflicts of interest, and associations or activities that would compromise their integrity or independence.

"These outlets are all United States government agencies that do the bidding and follow the policies of the leaders in power. Journalists’ decisions to accept payment from them runs contrary to the SPJ Code of Ethics, contradicts the standard of independent journalism and undermines the public’s confidence in the credibility of the news media.

"Therefore, the South Florida Pro Chapter of SPJ endorses the decision of the Miami Herald/El Nuevo Herald to fire employees and terminate agreements with freelancers who have been on the payrolls of Radio and TV Martí.

"Journalists in South Florida, and increasingly across the United States, come from countries with stronger traditions of ideological or advocacy journalism than we have in the United States. While we respect other forms of communication, the Society long ago resolved that professionalism requires journalists be autonomous from those in power, especially the government. Moreover, we believe that any ideological perspective taken by a media outlet must be stated openly so that its readers or viewers can better judge the veracity of the information offered..."

http://www.spjsofla.net/spj/statement_marti.html

Pablo Alfonso's Return Column

Published Sunday in El Nuevo Herald by Pablo Alfonso:

...This infamy that was published against us cannot end here. It requires a public apology from the administration of the Miami Herald Media Company, an editorial decision that makes it very clear, without leaving a doubt, that my credibility, as a journalist, is totally recognized.

However, until just a few hours ago things were not reflected that way. Judging by what has been published, our editorial "house" thinks they are doing us "a great favor," that they are "magnanimous" for letting me return.

It is framed as an "amnesty", a pardon, of a "benevolent" attitude from the company that they rehire me as a "prodigal son" that returns to the network of the family. What family? The one that appears to reject us and treat us as corrupt professionals? Like third of fourth rate journalists? The one that catalogues us as "chihuahuas?"

No, My God! I proceed from another mindset. Without arrogance, but with all the morals that correspond to me for the attitude assumed in carrying out  my duty in civics, ethics, as a citizen and democratically, learned from the first years of my primary education and tested during my years in prison and locked up for maintaining my conscience free, I should say:

I believe the Miami Herald Media Company owes us an honorable rectification. It's not about the right of legal claims. Above legality, there are morality and dignity. With those virtues I have been able to, throughout my life, lie my head on my pillow at night without regrets.

Miami Herald Media Company should have sufficient spiritual largesse to recognize in an editorial that the article written against us was "abominable, ugly, and of an incredible lack of depth," recognize in black and white that, if the company accepts our return to work, it's not only because administrative customs and procedures were violated and management errors were made, but because besides that, we are professional, with our reputation and credibility intact. If it were not so, the company would not have accepted our return.

That, which is admitted today in private, I want it recognized publicly. It's not a problem of arrogance. It's that our reputation was tried in the public light and should be justifiably cleared up in the same context.

With that criteria in our minds, in the afternoon hours of Friday, the president and editor of the Miami Herald Media Company, David Landsberg, received us in his office to discuss the topic. My colleague, Wilfredo Cancio, and I, attended. Present in the conversation were [Human Rights Head Elissa] Vanaver and [Miami Herald General Counsel Robert] Beatty.

We accepted the compromise of these executives, their word of honor, that in the coming days those necessary clarifications would be clearly established. They asked us for a few weeks, a vote of confidence. That vote of confidence is granted.

Today I return to work, with my head as high as the day I left; it's not a false pride that sustains it, but the fortitude of truth and of a done duty.

"Patience can accomplish anything," we will be patient in our wait and hope.

http://www.miami.com/mld/elnuevo/news/columnists/pablo_alfonso/15705996.htm

49 Journalists, Commentators, Freelancers, Opinion Makers in Miami Paid By U.S. Through Martis

From Today's Miami Herald Story by Christina Hoag:

After a thorough review of federal documents, The Miami Herald found 49 full-time journalists or contributors to local media outlets who also received payments from Radio and TV Martí from October 2001 to August 2006.

They included eight El Nuevo staffers, paid between $125 and $175,000, and 29 freelancers who contribute to El Nuevo. They received between $100 and $110,000 over a five-year period.

Thirteen other journalists at several Miami media, including Channel 41, Diario Las Americas, Univision, Telemundo, Radio Mambi and WQBA, were listed.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/15672634.htm

Two Herald Titans Grappled Over Column

Publisher Jesús Díaz Jr. announced his resignation Tuesday. But he actually quit two weeks ago -- about the time of a blow-up over a column by Miami Herald columnist Carl Hiaasen.

Díaz believed Hiaasen's sarcastic essay on the three El Nuevo Herald writers paid by Radio and TV Martí shouldn't run. Hiaasen threatened to quit. Díaz wasn't yielding.

A furious Hiaasen phoned friends close to The Miami Herald's new owner, the McClatchy Co. Within hours, Howard Weaver, McClatchy's top news executive, called The Miami Herald to voice his support for strong columnists in the company's papers.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/15672617.htm

Miami Herald Publisher Resigns

Jesús Díaz Jr. resigned today as president of the Miami Herald Media Co. and publisher of The Miami Herald and El Nuevo Herald.

The action comes amid a widening controversy over payments accepted by some El Nuevo Herald journalists for participating in U.S.-government broadcasts on Radio Martí and TV Martí.

The move, which ends a challenging and sometimes tumultuous 14 months as head of one of South Florida's most visible and influential institutions, is effective immediately. David Landsberg, who served as general manager, takes over today as company president and publisher of both newspapers.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/15664710.htm