A New Invasion of Cuba

Responsible news organizations hold objectivity as a prime principle of reporting, and that includes those American newspapers, newsmagazines and television companies knocking on the door of Fidel Castro’s Cuba. But this is a mirror with two faces. The outsiders have their view of objectivity and Castro has his, and we all know who holds the keys to the island.

A number of British, French, Spanish, Mexican, Italian and U.S. news organizations already have established permanent bureaus in Cuba. Nine more U.S. news organizations have applied to open shop. Their journalists are professionals who go see people, ask questions, analyze developments. And that could be a problem.

Castro’s concern should be that his own state-controlled news media, even the redoubtable daily Granma, might catch something dangerous from the intruders, like American-style objectivity. That’s probably not an immediate problem, but once the journalistic bug is loose, who knows?

Just in case, the government has issued regulations for the impending foreign press onslaught that suggest less door-knocking and more reading of government handouts. Those who don’t comply can expect to be reprimanded or banished from the island. Whether this invasion becomes a journalistic Bay of Pigs is in Castro’s hands. We’ll be watching.