Juan Antonio Borrego Díaz, director of the newspaper Escambray, dies from COVID

October 5, 2021

Journalist Juan Antonio Borrego Díaz passed away from complications associated with COVID-19. For 29 years, he was responsible for reflecting on the pages of Granma the events of the province of Sancti Spíritus.

His work as a reporter was combined for more than two decades with the direction of the newspaper Escambray, a media outlet of enormous prestige that under his leadership won all the journalism awards granted in Cuba.

Borrego was also an enthusiastic collaborator of Cubadebate and promoter of the editorial alliance between Escambray and Cubadebate.

He was also a deputy to the National Assembly of People's Power for several terms, representing the municipality of Taguasco. Between 2007 and 2008 he was a special correspondent for the Granma newspaper to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.

"Borrego is one of the great leaders of Cuban revolutionary journalism in our time. His intelligence and humanity made Escambray flourish into one of the most daring professional projects in our press system," wrote Ricardo Ronquillo Bello, president of the Union of Cuban Journalists (Upec).

"His mark demonstrates that in journalism creative leaders are more important than ordinary bosses. Around him was a nucleus of friends and even family members trained at the University of Oriente who came to the profession moved by the same inspiration, by the same transforming spirit, by the same desire for renewal. And they gave, they gave to all his colleagues and to Cubans who know the value of this press in Revolution, alongside the newcomers, a platform that is like the bow of change toward that often-dreamed model."

He began his work activity as a radio reporter at Sancti Spíritus from 1988 to 1990. Subsequently, he moved to the newspaper Escambray, where he served as editor, reporter, subdirector, and in 1997, as director of the media outlet. Since 1992 he worked as a correspondent for the Granma newspaper.

Sharp as an interviewer and high-flying columnist, there was no journalistic genre that he did not approach with ease. Hence, he was considered a "versatile journalist."

In addition to being an exceptional professional, he was a cherished colleague who, along with a valuable body of work, leaves an immense trail of affection and profound sorrow in his wake.