State TV Host Criticizes Cuban Media's Handling of Corruption Cases

In an unexpected move, Michel Torres Corona, the host of the pro-government show "Con Filo," openly admitted that Cuba's state-run media often fails to report on corruption cases, even when such instances have been publicly exposed. During a recent broadcast of the propagandistic program, Torres Corona stated that the "success of any project that sparks debate on social media or discusses controversial topics in Cuba" is less about its quality and more about "the gaps, the spaces we leave unfilled in the public sphere."

He acknowledged that "our media, our journalists do their work with minimal resources and without the empire's wealth. Often, they lack timely information to address the people's interests or can't cover corruption cases that have even become public," he admitted. Furthermore, he pointed out the lack of institutional readiness for idea exchange and the absence of genuine political participation spaces, blaming factors like the economic crisis, power outages, and mass emigration for fueling social discontent.

The remarks are notable as they partially deviate from the typical tone of "Con Filo," which is known for its sarcasm against critics and disparagement of independent journalists, activists, and media.

Between Sarcasm and Regret

Torres Corona's comments stand in stark contrast to his attitude at the beginning of last week when he mocked the growing public demand to remove "Con Filo" from national television. "Oh well, if the Cubans want it... let the Norwegians fund us!" he wrote sarcastically on Facebook, quoting a headline from CiberCuba that highlighted popular rejection of the program.

In that same post, he avoided addressing criticisms about the lack of resources to produce the show, which he had lamented just days before. Among the comments received, many online users questioned the allocation of public funds to what they described as an "unnecessary" and "biased" production, suggesting that the money could be better spent on hospitals, schools, or medicine.

Persistent Complaints About Resource Scarcity

Torres's grievances are not isolated. Curiously, official journalist Cristina Escobar also took to social media that same day to critique the inability of Cuba's state media to fulfill its social role and report truthfully and deeply.

Responding to a post by Francisco Rodríguez Cruz, vice president of the Cuban Journalists Union (UPEC), Escobar lamented that official media had ceded public debate to independent platforms like La Joven Cuba, which she claimed are the only ones filling the analysis void. She called for a reevaluation of resource usage, television programming, and media discourse, criticizing the focus on "filling airtime" rather than providing useful and critical content.

Escobar's new statements align with recent controversies surrounding musician Israel Rojas's call for "national dialogue" and reflect fractures within the state media apparatus. "We are doing poorly, creating enemies while ignoring the ruins of our own media," Escobar warned.

The official spokesperson often complains on social media about the purported lack of resources for his show, despite being state-funded and broadcast on national television. He maintains a consistently critical tone towards independent content creators and media, frequently accusing them of receiving foreign funding and spreading "distorted versions" of Cuban reality.

"At the root of all this is also money, the crisis, scarcity, blackouts, growing dissatisfaction, frustrations, families torn apart by emigration, and on the other side, those who only cover our miseries and mistakes while earning hefty salaries. It's an uneven fight," Torres Corona said on his recent program. His narrative of scarcity contrasts sharply with the state support he enjoys, highlighting that while resources for propaganda are abundant in Cuba, freedom of expression is not.