U.S. journalism courses empower Cubans to fight censorship

U.S. journalism courses empower Cubans to fight censorship
By KATLYN BABYAK
Posted June 3, 2015, 04:00 p.m.

Thirty Cubans are taking journalism courses taught by U.S. professors,
despite risking arrest and harassment. The U.S. Interests Section in
Havana, which replaced the U.S. Embassy in 1977, hosts the free weekly
sessions via video link. The U.S. Interests Section also offers English
and technology classes.

The courses encourage independent, objective journalism free from
intimidation from state-censorship. Most media in Cuba are
state-controlled, making independent reporting difficult. A few blogs
and news websites survive, but internet is limited and expensive.

Yoani Sanchez's website 14ymedio.com reports on daily life in Cuba,
offers dissenting political opinions, and even gives practical
agricultural reports. Sanchez and her multinational team have a clever
process to bypass state censorship. Writing about capitalism and
business is illegal, but her team operates as licensed freelance typists.

Cuba currently blocks the site, so Sanchez emails news updates to
correspondents in Spain and Miami who upload the content to the website.
In a recent panel discussion at George Mason University, she said, "To
me, creativity is opening a window when the door is shut."

Sanchez says technology is the key to freedom: "My followers look out
for me." Once she tweeted as police shoved her into a squad car, which
saved her from abuse and arrest. The real enemy of Cuban reporters is
self-censorship, she says.

Technology not only arms and equips independent journalists, but also
provides Cuban citizens with independence from and defense against the
government. Sanchez encourages American visitors to bring devices like
memory sticks, cellphones, and laptops to Cuba and leave them with Cuban
nationals.

President Raul Castro recently complained to reporters about the U.S.
Interests Section's "illegal" activities. Although the State Department
says it supports independent journalists, the free journalism classes
may be threatened if they get in the way of recent diplomatic
negotiations between the U.S. and Cuba.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Source: WORLD | U.S. journalism courses empower Cubans to fight
censorship | Katlyn Babyak | June 3, 2015 -
http://www.worldmag.com/2015/06/u_s_journalism_courses_empower_cubans_to_fight_censorship