Juana Carrasco Martín

Licensed in History, journalist and specialist in International Affairs. While studying History at the University of Havana, in 1965 she was offered the opportunity to work in the Philosophy department or join a new newspaper that was about to be inaugurated.

She began her journalism career at the newspaper Granma (1966-1977). Licensed in History. Specialist in international affairs. With more than four decades of dedication to journalism, she is today a wealth of experiences and anecdotes. Her work in various print media outlets such as the magazines Constructores, Romances, Mujeres, Bohemia and Verde Olivo and the newspapers Granma and Juventud Rebelde, reflects the work of this woman who is a clear example of revolutionary and Martian journalism.

The world of politics and international economics is fascinating to her. She delights in showing events, uncovering the reality of other countries and providing readers with the greatest amount of information so they can build their own judgments.

United Nations
In 1971 she was sent as a special correspondent to the General Assembly of the United Nations in New York. This helped her understand that country, to know the good of its history and the bad of its political system. She also became acquainted with the counterculture of those years, the pacifist movement, the rebellious young people who confronted the establishment and those returning from Vietnam.

Bohemia Magazine
When she worked at Bohemia magazine she was a war correspondent in Angola, of which she feels great pride, as it was a time of guerrillas, she was where every journalist would have wanted to be, on the side of the news. There she had the great satisfaction of meeting extraordinary young people who, regardless of the danger, took it upon themselves to fight to the end. She was marked by appreciating the living conditions of Angolans, their situation was very harsh and sad, in that experience she discovered something new: she learned the wealth of solidarity and met children who taught her many things.

Juventud Rebelde
They proposed the need to strengthen the newspaper's transition from weekly to daily with her vast knowledge. In any case it was a great challenge, because she had not done daily journalism since 1978. Without diminishing all her experiences, she went to fulfill her initial dream. Since 1999 she has been the head of the international page.

The Struggle for the Return of the Child Elián González
The months of struggle for the return of the child Elián, full of anguish and uncertainties, marked her life in a very special way. With that event she felt insecurity, she would finish her work with questions like how much longer? The most difficult moment was the visit of the grandmothers, as she suffered greatly as a woman. Seeing the attitude of the people, all the support provided when the round table discussions began and in the marches, greatly boosted her self-esteem. Who never doubted for a single moment was our Commander in Chief Fidel Castro. The day it became known that our child was finally returning, he approached her and said, gently patting her face: "I knew he would come back".

Awards and Recognition
The many awards and recognition she has obtained throughout her career are clear evidence that "Juanita" is a tireless fighter, a loyal follower of Martian ideas and of the Cuban Revolution. Evidence of this are:

The Annual Juan Gualberto Gómez Award
The National Journalism Prize José Martí which is held by only two women in this profession.