UCIS Central Calendar

On March 14, 2008, Granma started publication of a new section entitled Carta a la Dirrecion, which printed letters to the editor containing complaints, criticisms, and suggestions. The section rapidly grew in popularity and became the most closely read portion of the Friday paper. This talk focuses on three related questions that have theoretical relevance beyond the specific case of Cuba. First, why would the flagship newspaper in a communist regime solicit citizen letters? Second, why would some of these letters be printed? And third, why would news media seek out responses to the letters and comment on unsatisfactory responses? The talk argues that in Cuba, as in other communist regimes, published complaint letters have two functions: the simple printing of select letters facilitates the collective letting off of steam, whereas the publication of responses to the letters by the authorities that were responsible for the infractions outlined in the initial complaint allows the regime to demonstrate that it takes popular input seriously. Therefore, Cartas a la Direccion serves as a non-electoral mechanism of accountability. The talk is based on a detailed coding and analysis of all letters, responses to letters, and editorial postscripts (coletillas) published in Granma since 2008 and on interviews with journalists conducted in Havana.