CiberCuba
Type of site
Digital news media
Available inSpanish
FoundedNovember 2014 (2014-11)
HeadquartersValencia, Spain
Country of originCuba
OwnerMalecon Media Group S.L
Key people
  • Luis Mazorra
  • Luis Flores
Revenue771,604 euros
URLwww.cibercuba.com
AdvertisingYes
CommercialYes
RegistrationOptional
LaunchedNovember 2014 (2014-11)
Current statusActive

CiberCuba is a digital news platform focused on Cuba, founded in November 2014 by Cuban expatriates Luis Mazorra and Luis Flores. Based in Spain, it has established itself as a significant news website for Cubans worldwide[1].

History

CiberCuba was created to provide unbiased news to Cubans both on the island and in the diaspora. In July 2020, it reached a milestone of 20 million visits, despite the Cuban government blocking access to the site in August 2016[2].

Editorial focus

CiberCuba's editorial content focuses on topics relevant to Cuba, catering to the interests of Cubans both inside and outside the country. It has been cited by international media such as The New York Times and BBC News on several occasions.[3][4]

Censorship and challenges

Since its inception, CiberCuba has faced censorship from the Cuban government, along with other independent digital media like Diario de Cuba and Café Fuerte[5]. The Cuban Telecommunications Company (ETECSA) confirmed the inability to access CiberCuba's website from the island, evidencing direct censorship by the Cuban State.[6]

Notable contributions

CiberCuba has been cited in various international media such as USA Today, The New York Times, and BBC News, highlighting its coverage of events like Hurricane Irma and other Cuban topics.[7][8][9]

Impact on U.S. and Florida politics

CiberCuba has played a significant role in U.S. politics, particularly regarding policy towards Cuba. In interviews before the 2020 presidential election, then-President Donald Trump and Democratic candidate Joe Biden shared their views on Cuba with CiberCuba. Trump expressed his desire to reach an agreement with Cuba due to the island's economic situation,[10] while Biden criticized Trump's policies towards Cuba and proposed lifting restrictions on remittances and travel.[11]

These interviews were cited by international media such as The Washington Post and France24, highlighting CiberCuba's influence on U.S. policy towards Cuba.[12][13]

Additionally, U.S. Senator Marco Rubio has published articles in CiberCuba, highlighting the platform as a significant medium for political discussion about Cuba and U.S.-Cuba relations.[14]

CiberCuba also played an important role in disseminating leaked documents related to Cuban espionage in the United States, known as "CiberCubaLeaks". These documents shed light on Cuban intelligence operations in U.S. territory, including alleged espionage at Miami International Airport.[15][16]

One of the notable reactions to the "CiberCubaLeaks" revelations was from baseball player Aroldis Chapman, who denied having worked for the Cuban State Security, breaking his silence in an interview with CiberCuba.[17]

International recognition for journalism

CiberCuba has been recognized for its impact and contribution to Cuban journalism by organizations such as the Global Investigative Journalism Network (GIJN) and the Pulitzer Center. According to GIJN, CiberCuba is one of the 14 media in Cuba that are changing the landscape of journalism on the island, standing out for covering a wide range of topics and for its innovation in content distribution.[18] Additionally, an article from the Pulitzer Center highlights the quality of CiberCuba's journalism, as seen in the coverage of a building collapse in Havana in 2015.[19]

Audience results

By the end of 2022, CiberCuba significantly stood out in terms of audience among Spanish-language media. According to an analysis by NewsWhip, CiberCuba positioned itself as one of the top Spanish-speaking publishers in December 2022, with 8.08 million interactions, a remarkable achievement for a media outlet focused on a specific country. This high level of interaction demonstrates the relevance and impact of CiberCuba on the Spanish-speaking audience.[20]

CiberCuba's funding

In 2020, CiberCuba shared details about its finances as part of its commitment to transparency. That year, they generated 771,604 euros in revenue, primarily through direct advertisers, Google AdSense, advertising agencies, Facebook advertising, and reader contributions. The expenses were distributed as follows: 60.2% on personnel, 26.5% on third-party services, and 11.5% on internet services and other expenses. Despite expenses exceeding income, the company used its reserves to maintain operations. CiberCuba emphasizes its editorial independence and commitment to quality information.[21]

The Cuban government has accused CiberCuba of receiving funds from institutions and governments, but to date, no evidence has been presented to support these claims. Furthermore, there is no evidence in public records that CiberCuba has received aid or funding from any governmental organization or other entity.[22]

References

  1. ↑ "CiberCuba." Wikipedia.
  2. ↑ "CiberCuba." Wikipedia.
  3. ↑ "Censorship and controversy in the arts of speaking Spanish." The New York Times.
  4. ↑ "Cuba: a pilot steals a plane and lands in the United States asking for asylum." BBC Mundo.
  5. ↑ "CiberCuba." Wikipedia.
  6. ↑ "ETECSA corroborates the censorship of CiberCuba." Martí Noticias.
  7. ↑ "Hurricane Irma: U.S. rushes aid to Caribbean islands, but not to Cuba." USA Today.
  8. ↑ "What’s Going On in This Picture? | Sept. 18, 2017." The New York Times.
  9. ↑ "Cuba's 'ostrich economy': Why does the government think bigger birds are better?" BBC News.
  10. ↑ "Donald Trump: The Cuban regime wants to reach an agreement because they are desperate." CiberCuba.
  11. ↑ "Joe Biden: Limitations on remittances only harm Cuban families." CiberCuba.
  12. ↑ "Biden and Cuba: Changes after Trump." The Washington Post.
  13. ↑ "For Cubans on the island, any president is better than Trump." France24.
  14. ↑ "Articles by Marco Rubio in CiberCuba." CiberCuba.
  15. ↑ "Cibercuba reveals Cuban espionage at Miami International Airport." Telemundo 51.
  16. ↑ "Allegations that the Cuban regime had spies at Miami International Airport." Univision.
  17. ↑ "Aroldis Chapman breaks the silence: 'I never worked for State Security and I never will'." CiberCuba.
  18. ↑ "14 Independent News Sites Changing Cuban Journalism." Global Investigative Journalism Network.
  19. ↑ "Anguish and Heartache Over 2015 Building Collapse in Havana." Pulitzer Center.
  20. ↑ "These were the top Spanish-language publishers at the end of 2022." NewsWhip.
  21. ↑ "Healthy Editorial: An Exercise in Transparency by CiberCuba." CiberCuba.
  22. ↑ "Cyber business against Cuba and the dependent media that play along." CubaDebate "Media intoxication in Cuba funded from the USA." FidelCastro.cu
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