Publisher of Miami Papers Defends Dismissals Over Payments

By: E&P Staff Jesus Diaz, Jr., publisher of the Miami Herald and El Nuevo Herald, defended on Sunday his recent firing of of reporters who accepted thousands of dollars from Radio and TV Marti while working for the newspapers.

He also revealed in the newspapers that he had felt tempted to hold two columns related to the controversy -- including one by star writer Carl Hiaasen -- because they might inflame the situation. He ultimately ran both, disclosing that "many in our organization have told me that doing so would be the equivalent of suffocating the very freedom of the press I was trying to protect when we dismissed the El Nuevo Herald reporters. Therefore, the articles are published in today's paper.

"I am saddened by the pain these events have caused in our community during the past week. We are not perfect, but rest assured that we will continue to work diligently for the betterment of our community."

Hiaasen, the bestselling novelist, poked fun at "charities" for needy journalists. Ana Menendez raised questions about reporters getting axed while editors remains in place.

Here is how Diaz defended his actions in his guest column:

"In order to have democracy, a country must enjoy freedom of the press. The past week has been painful for many in the Cuban community and for employees at The Miami Herald and El Nuevo Herald. Many have questioned the motives behind the dismissal of two El Nuevo Herald reporters and a freelance writer who did a significant amount of work for us while simultaneously working for and being paid by Radio and TV Mart?.

"I approved the dismissals because, as the publisher of these newspapers, I am deeply committed to the separation between government and a free press. Further, our employees violated our conflict-of-interest rules. All of our journalists acknowledge and agree to adhere to our policies, which include this statement:

"We demonstrate our principles by operating with fairness, accuracy and independence, and by avoiding conflicts of interest, as well as the appearance of conflicts of interest. Our news operations will be diligent in their pursuit of the truth, without regard to special interests.

"Our decisions, painful as they were, reaffirm our commitment that reporters and editors at our newspapers are free of even the hint of a conflict of interest....

"I am committed to fair and independent journalism because I firmly believe that a totalitarian government cannot survive under the spotlight of a free press. Throughout this past week, I have been reminded that a dictator such as Fidel Castro would not be in power if Cuba had a free press.

"History has proved that the journey from an open society to a totalitarian regime can be a short one. When journalists receive regular payments for government-sponsored reporting while working for free-press outlets, we take a step down this dangerous path."