The Union of Cuban Journalists (UPEC) marked its 63rd anniversary on Wednesday with a formal message in the state-run publication Cubadebate, asserting its commitment to "thinking the truth, speaking it, and defending it with heart." However, Cuban citizens responded on social media with a wave of mockery, irony, and direct criticism questioning the very existence of journalism on the island.
The statement, penned by the National Presidency of the organization and its president, Ricardo Ronquillo Bello, urged the official press to "position itself at the heart of society as a bastion of dialogue, balance, and social and popular control." Prime Minister Manuel Marrero Cruz echoed these sentiments on X, quoting this very message in his congratulatory note.
Public Backlash and Sarcasm
What the regime intended as a professional celebration quickly became the subject of widespread criticism on Cubadebate's Facebook page.
"There's no journalism here. You just say what you're told to say," remarked one user. Another was more blunt: "There is NO JOURNALISM in Cuba. A journalist seeks out the news, but in Cuba, it's handed to them pre-packaged—that's not JOURNALISM, that's being a SPOKESPERSON."
Sarcasm was plentiful. "Journalists? More like announcers," noted a commenter. Another sarcastically inquired, "And there are journalists in Cuba? That's news to me! Plenty of spokespersons, though."
Historical Context and Current Realities
One of the more detailed comments invoked José Martí, a figure frequently quoted by UPEC, to pose a challenging question: "Could UPEC today freely interview Raúl Guillermo Rodríguez Castro ('El Cangrejo') like USA Today did, and ask him about his privileges and role in state affairs without restrictions, publishing his responses in full? Could a UPEC journalist do this without political permission and without facing consequences? If the answer is no, then UPEC's purpose is not to scrutinize power, as Martí advocated, but to shield it."
Other responses were succinct: "Doesn't seem like it. You parrot what you're told, when and how you're told," wrote one person. Another concluded, "That's a meme; you don't tell the truth, the truth of a dying people while you worship a foolish ideology."
Press Freedom Under Siege
The stark contrast between official rhetoric and verifiable reality is striking. According to Reporters Without Borders, Cuba ranks 160th out of 180 countries in the 2026 Press Freedom Index, being the second-worst in the Americas after Nicaragua.
The Cuban Institute for Freedom of Expression and the Press documented 1,188 violations of freedom of expression in 2025, a 54.7% increase from the previous year. At least 23 independent media sites remain blocked on the island.
The Social Communication Law, effective since June 2024, legally recognizes only state-affiliated media, the Communist Party, and mass organizations, rendering independent journalism illegal.
Within this context, UPEC—founded on July 15, 1963, at the Habana Libre hotel and boasting over 3,600 members according to its own figures—celebrates its six decades, claiming to defend the truth. The National Assembly is set to approve the establishment of a Ministry of Information and Social Communication in the coming weeks, further centralizing state control over media, forecasting more restrictions on independent journalism in Cuba.
Understanding Press Freedom in Cuba
Why is the UPEC's anniversary controversial?
The anniversary is controversial due to widespread criticism from the Cuban public, who argue that genuine journalism does not exist in Cuba, as media outlets are heavily influenced by the state.
What challenges does independent journalism face in Cuba?
Independent journalism in Cuba faces legality issues due to the Social Communication Law, which only recognizes state-affiliated media, leading to site blockages and increased restrictions.