By: Laura Mor on March 20, 2024 from Havana
Graciela Ramirez, editor of Resumen in Cuba. photo Yaimi Ravelo
The interactive room of Pabexpo was the appropriate scenario for the presentation of the international communication platform Resumen Latinoamericano, in the context of the third edition of the International Colloquium “Patria”. The colloquium is named after the Patria newspaper founded by Jose Marti with its first issue appearing on March 14, 1892. It became the official publication of the Cuban Revolutionary Party providing a method of spreading information that could be accessible to Cubans about the Cuban War of Independence.
Graciela Ramírez, Head of the Resumen bureau in Cuba, presented a general overview of the communicative development of the Argentine media to a large audience in attendance
She explained that recently Resumen Latinoamericano celebrated 36 years since its foundation in Argentina by its director Carlos Aznárez, meanwhile Resumen’s office in Cuba became a reality in 2012 with the launch of its first printed edition in the country.
Carlos Aznares, founder and editor of Resumen in Buenos Aires. photo: Yaimi Ravelo
From Buenos Aires the director sent a greeting to the international “Patria” meeting where he highlighted the importance of holding events such as this one to articulate joint strategies to confront the media campaigns of the hegemonic media.
As a multi media communication platform, Resumen has two radio and TV programs in Argentina, which together with the printed newspaper editions, allow for the construction of a counter-hegemonic communication center that makes visible those voices and stories that the mainstream media hides.
“We constantly have to struggle to make real efforts to show the truth”, Graciela explained, echoing the immense difficulties generated by the existence of the economic, commercial and financial blockade imposed by the United States on Cuba, not only economically, but also in logistical matters such as the acquisition of the paper needed to print the copies of the newspaper and its supplements in its edition on the island.
Despite these limitations, Resumen has published 70 issues in Cuba in the last 12 years, the last one devoted entirely to Palestine and the popular resistance against the Zionist genocide in Gaza.
In addition to Cuba, the Argentine media has 5 correspondents in Latin America (Argentina, Brazil, Cuba, Peru, Venezuela), 3 in Europe (Euskal Herria, Catalonia and Italy) and one in the United States that has published in English there since 2015; establishing a media outlet that brings news and analysis from Latin America to a North American audience.
Bill Hackwell, editor of Resumen in the US. photo: Syara Salado Massip
Resumen in English began right after the release of the Cuban 5 heroes on December 17, 2014. Graciela detailed during her presentation how Resumen played a significant role in that long struggle of over 16 years.
The US version of Resumen was started by Alicia Jrapko and Bill Hackwell with printed editions and on line news from Latin America. Over that period of time Resumen has grown in the US reaching an increasing number of subscribers who receive digital issues of news and analysis in English 3 times a week.
Resumen also produces documentary videos as part of its communication strategy with films such as: “Todo Guantánamo es nuestro”, “Cubanas. Mujeres en Revolución”, “La voz de la inocencia”, “La gota de agua” and the recently released “Un tornado de solidaridad” and “Donde están los girasoles”. They serve as examples of the attempt to show the world these little known and often manipulated realities from different angles.
Source: Cuba en Resumen