This March 14 marks the 131st anniversary of the newspaper Patria circulating for the first time to, according to its founder, "gather and arm and live in the passion of the truth"; the same passion that has remained unscathed over time in those who strive every day, from the journalistic practice, to tell reality with all its nuances.
Hence, the date was once again an incentive for a journalism that has plenty of challenges when new management models knock on the doors of the media and the commitment to a new model of public press continues, capable of satisfying the needs of the times and current audiences.
In addition, while other horizons are drawn that point to change, the Cuban Press Day also found space in Ciego de Ávila for the joy and recognition of a union that reviewed a year of work in which journalistic praxis did not have them not easy.
Professionals from the sector came to Martí Park, in the main city, in a commemorative act to distinguish the work and merit of those who, in their daily practice and despite the difficulties, demonstrate that better journalism is not a chimera.
In this way, the Orlando Castellanos Provincial Journalism Award for his life's work went to Eric Yanes Rodríguez, a cameraman for Televisión Avileña, of whom the jury highlighted the importance of a work that stands out for its quality and scope, as well as its spirit of improvement and, at the same time, their willingness to transmit knowledge through their work.
During the event, the results of the Saúl Rodríguez Provincial Contest were announced, which rewards the best works of the last year in the different categories it convenes.
In this edition, in the Print Press section, the three awards went to reporters from Invasor Newspaper. In the first place, Ailén Castilla Padrón was recognized, with the report Emergencies of medical assistance; meanwhile, Sayli Sosa Barceló, with País E-28: the challenges and the horizon, and Katia Siberia García, with: How many laps are missing from the cyclical debt of Commerce? won second and third place, respectively.
In Hypermedia Journalism, the jury decided to award first place to the report Electric clotheslines: garlands of illegalities and precariousness (), by Sayli Sosa Barceló; while the second was obtained by School dropouts: readings between the lines from Ciego de Ávila, by Amanda Tamayo and Grether Martínez—both from Invasor Newspaper—, and the third, Animal welfare, a pending issue in Ciego de Ávila, by Grechel González Almaguer and Albert Fajardo Jiménez, from the provincial radio station Radio Surco.
I don't want another mother, a testimony authored by Yaimer Mujica, from Radio Chambas, won first prize in the Radio category. The second was for Technological blackout the epicenter of million-dollar losses, by José Luis Martínez Alejo, and the third for the series of reports Indiscipline of coachmen, by Odania García Heredia, both from the provincial radio station Radio Surco.
In Television, the highest award went to Leydis Yanet Romeró Roselló, for En clave de amor. Second place went to Karín Gómez, with the work Mis banderas, and third place went to Randolph Medina Alonso, for the work Pesca deportiva, all three from Televisión Avileña.
In addition, in this modality, the jury decided to award a mention to journalists Yenys Rodríguez Zabala, from Televisión Avileña, and Arlettys White Morales, from Invasor Newspaper.
The cartoon Matanzas in the heart of Cuba, by photojournalist Osvaldo Gutiérrez Gómez, from the Cuban News Agency, deserved first place in Graphic Journalism, while second place went to the photo-reportage The future wields bates, by Pastor Batista Valdés, correspondent for Bohemia magazine, and the third for the designer of the Invasor Newspaper, Yoanne Mursulí.
On this occasion, Karín Gómez won the Special Prize, which recognizes the journalistic work that best makes visible the transformations that, in the economic and social field, the Latir Avileño political movement has been generating.
Liván Izquierdo Alonso, a member of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba and its first secretary in the province, and Governor Tomás Alexis Martín Venegas participated in the meeting, who recognized the work of the winners and extended their congratulations to the entire union.