Reporter assesses role of media in Castro's Cuba

Tuesday, September 26, 2006
Reporter assesses role of media in Castro's Cuba By Cati Vanden Breul

New York Times reporter Anthony DePalma spoke Monday at Coffman Union
about the media and Cuban President Fidel Castro.

For most American citizens, visiting Cuba is almost impossible. But for
New York Times reporter Anthony DePalma, getting into the country was
less of a problem. The reporter - who once served as the newspaper's
bureau chief in Mexico and Canada - came to Coffman Union on Monday
night to talk about media's role in Fidel Castro's rise to power as
Cuba's dictator. In August 2005, DePalma went to Cuba to do research for
a book he was writing on media's relationship with Castro. Throughout
the discussion, DePalma offered his views on what he thinks is going to
happen in Cuba after Castro, who is 80 and in poor health. He said
Castro's brother Raul, slated to take over after his death, doesn't have
as much support with the Cuban people or as much personality as Fidel
does. "In order to retain their loyalty, he is going to have to make
changes in the economy giving the people access to basic necessities
like electricity and water," DePalma said. In the discussion, DePalma
told the story of Herbert Matthews, the New York Times reporter who
first announced to the world that Castro was, in fact, not dead after a
failed attempt to oust Fulgencio Batista in 1956, as originally was
reported. Castro waited months before seeking out a foreign
correspondent to tell his story. After Matthews was granted an exclusive
interview with the rebel - which he conducted secretly disguised as an
American planter in the mountains - the New York Times printed his
firsthand account of the meeting on the front page. Many accused
Matthews of painting too positive a picture of Castro, helping boost his
popularity among Cubans and even Americans, DePalma said. "(Matthews)
presented a vision of a Robin Hood-like defender of the Cuban
constitution and democracy," he said. Although at the time Castro said
nothing to Matthews about his ambitions to become Cuba's leader, they
became clear in 1959 when he led the revolution that successfully
removed Batista from power. During the first few years of Castro rule,
Matthews and Castro maintained a close relationship. The dictator even
awarded him a medal for being a "friend of Cuba" and he is still seen by
some as a hero in Cuba, DePalma said. But in the United States, Matthews
was condemned and even investigated by the FBI for his reporting. In his
book, DePalma explores Matthews' contribution to Castro's reputation
preceding the revolution as well as whether the dictator's charisma
seduced the reporter, affecting his writing. University librarian Rafael
Tarrago, who was born in Cuba and left the country in 1966, when he was
14, said the quality of life in Cuba did improve for some after Castro
came to power, but has failed to live up to his promises. "Before
Castro, the state of the countryside was neglected and when Castro
offered the roads and other services, they had to flock to him," Tarrago
said. He said that even though some Cubans are unhappy with Castro's
communist ideology, they are too afraid of change to do anything about
it. But Castro's brother Raul probably will have to open the economy a
little and give Cubans more economic freedom, if not more human rights,
he said. Carol Byrne, president of event sponsor Minnesota International
Center, said the goal of their discussions is to increase public
awareness of global affairs.

The Minnesota Daily

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