Alfonso Noya Martinez is the president of the Institute of Information and Social Communication of Cuba, a deputy in the National Assembly of People’s Power for the municipality of Santa Cruz del Sur, Camaguey, in the 9th Legislature, as well as a member of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC), the Cuban Workers’ Central (CTC) and the Committees for the Defence of the Revolution (CDR).

In the exclusive interview with TV BRICS, he spoke about the creation and functions of the Institute of Information and Social Communication of Cuba as well as the Institute’s cooperation with organisations in the Russian Federation and its role in BRICS activities.

The Institute of Information and Social Communication of the Republic of Cuba was established in 2021. What are its main differences from previous institutions and its objectives?

When the Institute of Information and Social Communication (ICS) was approved, its mission was defined as conducting and controlling the Social Communication Policy of the Cuban State and Government, while at the same time, among its functions is to manage the social communication system in the country in its different areas of action: Organisational, Media and Community, in a strategic and integrated manner in both public, physical and digital spaces.

Previously, there was no institution with this mission, since the Central State Administration body that existed until then was the Cuban Institute of Radio and Television (ICRT), whose mission was limited to the production of Radio and Television to the satisfaction of the population through a varied and quality programming.

What results have already been achieved?

We have worked very hard on the creation and implementation of the Institute and on the proposed Law on Social Communication, which was approved by the National Assembly of People’s Power in its current legislature. The Law will enter into force soon, together with two regulations, one for the Law itself, and the other for advertising and sponsorship.

This legal norm is also unprecedented in the country. It is the result of a collective and multidisciplinary creation exercise, based on the precedent of the construction of the Social Communication Policy of the Cuban State and Government. It benefited from the contributions of broad consultation processes with specialists and other social sectors in direct exchanges and debates, which led to multiple opinions that were taken into account and contributed to the enrichment of the document.

The Law on Social Communication and its regulatory provisions set guidelines in the process of building the country’s regulatory framework in this area.

The process of implementing these legal instruments will be vital for the articulation and strengthening of the Social Communication System as a driving force for the country’s political, economic, social and cultural development.

Historically, Russia and Cuba have strong ties in different areas, particularly in the field of information. Could you tell us about the Institute’s cooperation with organisations in the Russian Federation?

Cooperation with Russian counterpart institutions has been extensive and mutually beneficial. The Agreement between the Ministry of Communications and Mass Media of Russia (since 15 May 2018 it became the Ministry of Digital Development, Communications and Mass Media of the Russian Federation) and the Cuban Institute of Radio and Television (ICRT) was initialled on 23 March 2018. Work is currently underway to update it to adapt it to the changes that both institutions have undergone in their missions, contents and functions during the last period.

What role does cooperation with the media in the BRICS countries play in the Institute’s activities? With whom does cooperation take place?

The Institute pays special attention to cooperation with the BRICS countries. Close relations with the People’s Republic of China, the Russian Federation, South Africa and Brazil stand out.

There is interest in broadening and deepening ties with India, as well as with the new countries that will soon join BRICS.

What are your plans for the near future: are you planning to expand the network of partners? In which regions/countries?

Future plans are ambitious and our main interest is to consolidate relations with the countries where traditional relations of cooperation and exchange already exist and to continue working to expand and consolidate them in Latin America, Africa, as well as in Asia and Europe.

TV BRICS actively cooperates with BRICS and BRICS+ institutions. One of the priority areas of the media network’s work is the inclusion of the news agenda of Latin American countries in the media of the alliance states.

Earlier, on the sidelines of the international journalism forum in Cuba entitled “New Operation Truth”, a cooperation
agreement was signed between the Cuban Institute of Information and Social Communication and TV BRICS. Both parties are interested in establishing and expanding bilateral relations in the field of information and mass communication.

The organisations carry out multilateral broadcasting projects and activities and provide comprehensive coverage of priority areas of humanitarian communication between Cuba, Russia and other BRICS countries.

Photo: TV BRICS