Cuba's Prime Minister, Manuel Marrero Cruz, has stressed the critical role of state-run media in effectively and strategically communicating the regime's decisions to the public. He emphasized the importance of timely dissemination of information regarding the actions supposedly outlined in his newly announced Government Program.
During a meeting held on Monday at the Palace with employees and executives from state media outlets, the Prime Minister conducted an annual review of the Institute of Information and Social Communication (IICS). He highlighted the need to ensure strong communication support for the Government Program and to enhance the leadership function of the entity, which was established in August 2021, a month after the historic and massive protests on July 11 of that year (11J).
"It's a two-way street. We need your support, but we also must ensure that we convey our decisions promptly to enable impactful media, community, organizational, and public engagement," Marrero Cruz urged the state media.
The Prime Minister underscored that communication is a fundamental pillar for the Cuban regime. Despite institutional access to various digital platforms being insufficient, he called for intensified efforts in the "media battle," according to a report from the National Television News (NTV).
"As a nation under attack, we still face dissatisfaction. Even with the institutional access we have to different platforms, the battle remains minimal. It's not just about confronting enemies of the revolution, but also about exposing and communicating Cuba's truth," he stated.
Additionally, Marrero Cruz highlighted that while the government faces numerous challenges and issues, it is crucial to communicate not only the negative aspects but also the regime's efforts to overcome difficulties.
"Yes, we have many problems and dissatisfactions, but we must also convey that we are fighting, doing things differently, and addressing the complexities we face... We must also report on incompetence and when things are done poorly, even if it doesn't relate to the embargo... our own self-imposed blockades sometimes limit us... We've insisted on doing things differently, not just more of the same, because we live in different times," the leader concluded.
The Struggle for Control Over Information
Cuban state media have undergone a significant restructuring aimed at tightening the regime's grip on information flow.
The Institute of Information and Social Communication (IICS), created in 2021 to replace the Cuban Institute of Radio and Television (ICRT), was designed to strengthen the state's informational dominance. Despite promises to improve communication in state media, the Cuban regime has effectively consolidated its governmental monopoly over official media.
In this context, the Cuban government has appointed inspectors to control information and ensure it aligns with official interests, aiming to enhance oversight of informative content and discipline public officials.
Moreover, pressure has increased on official media, with public acknowledgments from the ruler Miguel Díaz-Canel regarding the limitations and errors in the government's communication strategy.
In December 2024, the leader admitted that official media have failed to connect with citizens or inspire trust in the regime's management. Meanwhile, the government continues to promote its narrative of resistance against an "external enemy," using the U.S. embargo as a scapegoat for internal problems. However, growing public dissatisfaction with the lack of transparency and governmental inefficiency highlights the need to reinforce control over communication and official discourse.
By demanding total alignment of state media with the government program, Marrero Cruz seeks not only to improve internal communication but also to safeguard the regime's legitimacy amid rising social unrest, ensuring that the public does not question the continuity government.
From Projections to Government Program: A Hollow Promise
Recently unveiled as an evolution of the 'Government Projections to correct distortions and reinvigorate the economy,' the so-called "continuity" Program was presented at the Council of Ministers meeting on Monday without a detailed plan or specific measures.
The absence of self-critical analysis, specific data, quantified goals, or allocated resources renders Díaz-Canel's Government Program an empty rhetoric, lacking verifiable information on how economic distortions will be corrected or how the economy will be genuinely revitalized by 2025.
As Cuban economist Pedro Monreal analyzed, instead of acknowledging policy failures and proposing effective solutions, the official narrative clings to propaganda, with speeches designed to simulate control and planning, while the country continues its downward spiral.
This is not a public economic policy program but "a discussion within a limited circle of politicians," detached from the real urgencies of the Cuban economy and the well-being of its people, Monreal concluded.
Understanding Cuba's Media and Government Dynamics
What is the role of the Institute of Information and Social Communication (IICS) in Cuba?
The IICS was established to replace the Cuban Institute of Radio and Television, with the aim of strengthening the state's control over information and reinforcing the government’s dominance in official media.
How does the Cuban regime justify its media control?
The Cuban government often justifies its stringent media control by portraying itself as a nation under attack, using the narrative of an "external enemy" and the U.S. embargo to explain internal problems.
Why is there growing public dissatisfaction in Cuba?
Public dissatisfaction in Cuba is increasing due to a lack of transparency, governmental inefficiency, and the perception that the regime is failing to address the real challenges facing the nation.