Luis Francisco Báez Hernández

Prestigious Cuban journalist. Creator of several books on important topics. Participant in important historical events. For his dedication and love of his work, he has obtained several decorations and awards.

He was born in La Habana, he is a journalism graduate. He was a war correspondent during the invasion of Playa Girón.

He has obtained numerous awards and distinctions. In 1993 he was awarded the National Journalism Prize, and the following year the International Agency Prensa Latina granted him the International Prize «José Martí».

He worked at El Crisol in 1954 as a sports columnist. Also at the newspaper Avance. Graduate of the Professional School of Journalism "Manuel Márquez Sterling" in 1958. He began reporting information related to Fidel Castro Ruz starting January 1, 1959 when the Avance editorial staff assigned him to do so. He was part of the group of journalists who traveled to Venezuela to report on Fidel's visit (January/1959).

In April and May he accompanied Fidel on his trips through the United States, Canada, Argentina, Brazil and Uruguay. In June 1959 he began his work at Revolución. He was part of the journalism panels that interviewed Fidel on the programs Ante la Prensa (1960). War correspondent during the Invasion of Playa Girón, where he reported those events for the newspaper Revolución and Revista Bohemia. Founder of UPEC (1963). Founder of the Newspaper Granma (1965-1967), he worked at the newspaper Juventud Rebelde (1967-1970) and Revista Bohemia (1970-1980), Revista Cuba Internacional (1978-1980), Prensa Latina (1980-2005). International Prize "José Martí", granted by the agency Prensa Latina, in 1994. He obtained several national journalism awards in the July 26 contest of UPEC.

He has accompanied President Fidel Castro on most of his trips abroad. Among the world personalities he has interviewed are Fidel Castro, Omar Torrijos, Salvador Allende, Ho Chi Minh, Kim Il Sung, Alberto Fujimori, Luis Echeverría, Juan Pablo XIII, Carlos Andrés Pérez, Lázaro Cárdenas, Juan Bosh, Manuel Antonio Noriega and George McGovern. He was received by the Pope at the Vatican, shortly before his holiness's visit to Cuba. Raúl Roa described him as having a "sharp pen and eagle's eye". He had the opportunity to interview Fidel Castro in the midst of the fighting at Playa Girón since he was the first war correspondent to reach the front lines. He has also accompanied the Cuban president on various trips abroad and has been an exceptional witness to various historical moments.

Recognition

The Replica of the machete of the Anecdote about General Máximo Gómez (1994),
The distinction Félix Elmuza
Medal of Combatant of Playa Girón.

Publications

Secrets of Generals
The CIA's Secret War
Those Who Left, Those Who Stayed
Conversations with Juan Marinello
Under the Wings of the Condor
The Permanent Aggression
Blockade: The Longest Economic Siege in History
Camilo Cienfuegos: The Man of a Thousand Anecdotes
Honduras Countercoup
Caravan of Freedom
That's How Fidel Is
Chronicle of a Witness about Fidel's Visit to Venezuela 50 Years Ago
Fidel in Rome Moved by the Pope
45 Years Since the Visit of the Head of the Cuban Revolution to the U.S.: We Must Save Hope
45 Years Since the First Foreign Trip of the Head of the Cuban Revolution: Fidel Took Caracas
Operation Truth: "The Greater the Revolution, the More Intense the Campaign Will Be"
Evo, Silver Foam
The Merit of Being Alive
Miami: Where Time Stopped
Indiscreet Questions
More Hope Than Faith
Absolved by History
Chávez Ours