The opinion segment hosted by the seasoned Cuban journalist José Alejandro Rodríguez on Canal Habana has been abruptly canceled with merely a phone call. Someone outside the channel's management informed Rodríguez of his termination, citing a so-called "programming renewal" as the reason. This was revealed by Rodríguez himself in a Facebook post shared with his followers and friends. In his post, he clarified the reasons behind the unexpected end of his collaboration with the opinion section of Canal Habana, a platform he has been associated with since the early days of CHTV.
The post also highlighted the unconventional methods used by Canal Habana to distance this well-known Juventud Rebelde journalist from his audience. Rodríguez is recognized for his work on the "Acuse de Recibo" section, which for 27 years has addressed readers' complaints and demanded accountability from those in charge.
"I didn't leave. After a vacation, I was informed by a third party—not directly by the Channel's Management—that they were undergoing a programming renewal and had decided my segment would no longer continue because it had been running for too many years. I was notified over the phone, and that was it. The same happened to my colleague Oni Acosta, a respected expert in musical matters," Rodríguez wrote on Meta's social network.
Rodríguez explained that he made this clarification to prevent his absence from the screen from being seen as a retreat during challenging times for official discourse. "I am not abandoning my posts," he emphasized.
The post was flooded with comments lamenting the situation and praising the "unique brilliance" of Pepe Alejandro Rodríguez. Some suggested that the journalist's opinions had become uncomfortable for Canal Habana. Others speculated that CHTV's management might reverse a decision that's hard to comprehend when it affects seasoned professionals in the official press.
"Canal Habana itself needs a leadership overhaul because they fail to serve the people, who saw you as a source of support and a solution to problems ignored by the authorities. Many issues were resolved thanks to your interventions. It seems this management was instructed to eliminate that section, which was bothersome to officials who were pressured to work for the community. This situation is very troubling," wrote an internet user named Rafael Lázaro Rodríguez Macías.
Rodríguez invites his audience to follow his opinions on "Hablando Claro" and "Hablemos a lo cortico" on Radio Rebelde. As one follower noted, someone at Canal Habana was upset by his "Straight Talk" comments.
Key Questions About the Controversy at Canal Habana
What was the reason given for José Alejandro Rodríguez's departure from Canal Habana?
The stated reason for Rodríguez's departure was a "programming renewal," which was communicated to him through a third party.
How did the public react to the cancellation of Rodríguez's segment?
The public expressed regret and praised Rodríguez for his work, with some suggesting his opinions might have been seen as uncomfortable by Canal Habana.
What alternative platforms does Rodríguez suggest his audience follow?
Rodríguez encourages his audience to continue following his opinions on "Hablando Claro" and "Hablemos a lo cortico" on Radio Rebelde.