PUBLIC SERVICE VS. AUTONOMY, THE DILEMMA OF CUBAN JOURNALISTIC CULTURE

Introduction: During the presidency of Raul Castro (2006-2018), the Cuban media system has lost the state-partisan monopoly and has suffered the decentralization of communication production and distribution. In this context of changes, the relationships between the media system components that define journalistic professionalism are analyzed based on the links identified between the journalistic culture and the projection of media policy. Methodology: The critical review of research on media systems allowed us to observe this case study contextualized. A qualitative methodology was applied, based on an in-depth interview with 21 experts in Political and Communication Sciences about Cuba, and qualitative content analysis to political programs, laws, scientific publications, research theses, and other interviews with Cuban journalists registered in previous studies. Results: The central dilemma of Cuban journalism is delineated in the interaction between the journalistic roles and the definition of public service and between journalistic autonomy and the functions of the media aimed at reinforcing nationalism and national defense. Discussion: The meaning of Cuban journalistic professionalism seems to be more associated with the ideals of social justice, citizen participation, political commitment, and national sovereignty, and with a formative model of a humanist and critical journalist; than to the autonomy or the consistency of media system rules. Conclusions: However, tension coexists between media-political instrumentalization and professionalization -constituted by journalism with a strong vocation for public service and journalists who develop strategies to explore greater conceptual and structural autonomy-.