Joe Garcia featured in frontpage articles on Radio and TV Martí

Joe Garcia, NDN Senior Vice President and the Director of its Hispanic Strategy Center, was quoted in two front page articles from today's Miami Herald discussing Radio and TV Martí.

The first article discusses the localization of Radio and TV Martí in South Florida. Joe references one of the local stations set to broadcast the Martís, Radio Mambí:

Joe García, executive vice president of the New Democratic Network, said he was outraged. Radio Mambí, known for its virulent anti-Castro commentary, is blocked in Cuba, he said.

''This is a fraud,'' García said. ``This is using taxpayer dollars for a political payoff to benefit the most Republican and politically charged radio station in Miami. They know well that the station isn't heard in Cuba, because Cuba transmits Radio Rebelde over the exact same frequency.''

The second article discusses the management strategy of the Office of Cuba Broadcasting (OCB):

Despite having dozens of U.S.-paid journalists on staff, OCB has spent about $1 million since 2001 to contract at least 49 other news gatherers who also work or freelance at major media outlets in Miami. Several have reported on TV and Radio Martí for their local news organizations.

Joe Garcia -- a former CANF director and now vice president of the New Democratic Network, which helps Democrats recruit Hispanic voters -- said paying local journalists gives the appearance that OCB is trying to buy off criticism.