MIAMI, USA — The Broadcasting Board of Governors has announced that Maria “Malule” González will take over as director of the Office of Cuba Broadcasting, responsible for the strategic planning and direction of TV Martí, Radio Martí and Martinoticias.com, which are collectively known as the Martís.

“We are thrilled to have Malule join us at such a critical time for Cuba broadcasting,” said BBG chairman Jeff Shell. “She is a seasoned, Emmy award-winning journalist, a proven leader and an innovator, and she has the skills and experience to lead the Martís through a new era of US broadcasting to Cuba.”
“I am so grateful for this opportunity to serve my country,” said González. “I strongly believe that the people of Cuba must have access to free and accurate information, and I am thrilled to work alongside the entire Marti team to ensure that they do.”

González began her journalism career as a writer, producer and manager in Puerto Rico before she moved to Univision in 1989, followed by Telemundo where she produced several shows and launched “CBS TeleNoticias,” the first Spanish 24-hour pan-regional news network.

Since then she has created popular programs for Venevision International, served as general manager for an independent local station in Puerto Rico, and most recently has served as vice-president and station manager for WLII and WSTE, two local stations owned and operated by Univision.

González will be taking over from Carlos Garcia-Pérez, who has served as OCB director for five years.

“Since 2010, Carlos has passionately worked to provide Cubans with unbiased, accurate and reliable information,” said BBG CEO and director John Lansing. “He has led the charge to improve programming, pursue new strategies to overcome Cuban jamming and enhance editorial effectiveness. He is a tireless defender of Article 19, and I know there are Cubans whose lives are better for it.”

Despite changes in its relationship with the US, Cuba continues to have one of the world’s most restrictive media environments. It consistently ranks in the bottom ten of Freedom House’s Freedom of the Press Index, and the Committee to Protect Journalists calls it one of the worst countries to be a blogger.

The Martís are a multimedia hub of news, information and analysis that provides a one-of-a-kind service that brings unbiased, objective information to Cuba.

González’s appointment was effective December 12, 2015.

IMAGE: Maria Gonzalez