To understand the current state of media violence within Cuba, we need to look back to 1958. The media made a significant contribution to the Cuban revolution and the overthrow of the then ruling dictator Fulgencio Batista.

While Batista assured the international press that the guerrilla army surrounding Fidel Castro and Che Guevara was not in danger1, the rebels managed to spread their message and political position with the help of the radio station Radio Rebelde founded by Che Guevaras. The station aimed to use a propaganda tool to criticize the social injustice under Batista's government and to support the revolution.2 Due to the lack of access to print media and the high proportion of illiterate people in the population (around 40 percent until 1960)3, the radio gained special importance as a mass medium. Thanks to the newly gained reach, the movement received the necessary attention and was able to convince numerous groups from the broader population to join the rebels.

the article was written by Sebastian Gubernatis, Felix Hahn

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