The Broadcasting Board of Governors appointed Carlos García-Pérez as director of the Office of Cuba Broadcasting; OCB supervises Radio and Television Martí.
The BBG said he’s a shareholder in the litigation and trial practice department of Goldman Antonetti & Córdova PSC, one of the largest law firms in Puerto Rico. The Miami Herald reports García-Pérez is active in the Cuban American National Foundation.
We reported in August that Pedro Roig resigned as director of the Office of Cuba Broadcasting.
Though Roig gave no reason for leaving the job after seven years, the Herald reported at the time that that Radio and TV Martí combined spent an estimated $500 million over the years broadcasting news and entertainment to Cuba “but has been dogged by complaints of meager audiences, biased politics and journalism and cronyism.”
“Providing reliable news and information about Cuba, the U.S. and the world to the people of Cuba is more critical than ever,” stated García-Pérez.
BBG Chairman Walter Issacson echoed that sentiment: “As we observe potential changes in the political and economic landscape in Cuba, it becomes even more important that Radio and TV Martí present a trusted source of objective news and information about events in Cuba, and related U.S. policies.”
The Senate last week confirmed Dick Lobo, 73, a Tampa-based journalist of Cuban descent, as head of the International Broadcast Bureau, which provides programming and transmission services to the BBG stations. Lobo headed the Martí stations during the Clinton administration, according to the account.
