Radio Television Marti - Bias and Credibility

LEFT-CENTER BIAS

These media sources have a slight to moderate liberal bias. They often publish factual information that utilizes loaded words (wording that attempts to influence an audience by appealing to emotion or stereotypes) to favor liberal causes. These sources are generally trustworthy for information but may require further investigation. See all Left-Center sources.

Overall, we rate Radio Televisión Martí Left-Center Biased as they promote the interests of the current government. We also rate them borderline Questionable and Mixed for factual reporting due to the consistent promotion of U.S. Government propaganda directed at the Cuban people.

Detailed Report

Bias Rating: LEFT-CENTER
Factual Reporting: MIXED
Country: USA
Press Freedom Rating: MOSTLY FREE
Media Type: Radio/TV
Traffic/Popularity: Medium Traffic
MBFC Credibility Rating: MEDIUM CREDIBILITY

History

RadioTelevisionMarti.com is a multimedia hub that offers news, information, and analysis regarding Cuba. They are headquartered in Miami, Florida. Radio Marti launched in 1985, during the Reagan Administration, and is named after the nineteenth-century Cuban independence hero and poet José Martí. In 1990, TV Marti began broadcasting. Later they expanded to offer digital operations. According to their “know us” page, RadioTelevisionMarti.com states that they “focus on essentially covering the Cuban issue with an alternative vision that breaks censorship.”

In June 2018, President Trump appointed film producer Michael Pack as Chief Executive Officer of USAGM. He resigned on January 20, 2021, upon President Biden’s Election. Kelu Chao, Acting Chief Executive Officer of USAGM, and Sylvia Rosabal are the new Director of the Office of Cuba Broadcasting (OCB). USAGM stations include OCB, Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty (RFE / RL), Radio Free Asia (RFA), and the Middle East Broadcasting Network (MBN).

Read our profile on the United States government and media.

Funded by / Ownership

Radio Televisión Martí is funded by the U.S. Federal Government through the United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM) and operated by The Office of Cuba Broadcasting (OCB).

Analysis

Radio Televisión Martí owner USAGM states that “USAGM ensures that our networks’ program decisions reflect the U.S. national interest.” Radio Televisión Martí produces content critical of the Cuban government and aims to reach the Cuban public with pro-US messages. Further, they have been called a propaganda arm of the US Government.

According to an NPR article in 2018, Marti broadcasted a TV segment attacking George Soros promoting anti-Semite conspiracy theories such as “Jewish financiers controlling the world.” In 2019, an internal audit was conducted, and according to their report, “TV and Radio Martí plagued by “bad journalism,” “ineffective propaganda.” A quote from the article reads, “The auditors concluded that the stations, designed to broadcast unbiased news to Cuba, are “an anachronism.” The report further states, “Martí openly engages in both propaganda and the promotion of a current administration’s foreign policy, in this case towards Cuba (as well as Venezuela and Nicaragua).” Here is the full 2019 internal audit report.

Bias

Radio Televisión Martí presents news that is generally in line with the American Government’s narrative. For instance, during President Trump’s administration Marti would broadcast conspiracy theories. Its anchor and producer, Tomás N. Regalado, known as Tommy, would refer to Judicial Watch as “a good source.” Judicial Watch is rated as Questionable and of low credibility by MBFC and other media raters.

Radio Television Marti uses strong loaded language in their headlines and news stories such as this: “Tens of thousands of signatories ask the US for a military intervention against the “terrorist and genocidal dictatorship” in Cuba” and “They repressed with dogs, beatings and massive arrests: “In front of the Capitol, on the Malecón and La Punta there was a lot of repression.” In general, the primary purpose of Marti is to promote U.S. Government interests, which includes putting pressure on the current communist government of Cuba. As a result, Marti frequently publishes one-sided propaganda.

Failed Fact Checks

None in the Last 5 years.

Overall, we rate Radio Televisión Martí Left-Center Biased as they promote the interests of the current government. We also rate them borderline Questionable and Mixed for factual reporting due to the consistent promotion of U.S. Government propaganda directed at the Cuban people. (M. Huitsing 7/13/2021)

Source: https://www.radiotelevisionmarti.com/

Last Updated on June 30, 2023 by Media Bias Fact Check