Al
Al’s Loupe
Many responsible for Progreso ‘magic’
By Alvaro F. Fernandez
alfernandez@progresoweekly.com
Did you catch the Miami Sun Post article,
“Countering the Castro Effect”, about Progreso Weekly? If you missed it, we’ve
reproduced it in English (as it appeared) and translated it to Spanish for our
Semanal readers. Columnist Jack King, of Coconut Grove, wrote it and I will go
ahead and admit that it makes us look good. Magic is one of the words he uses to
describe us.
The three individuals
prominently mentioned in the column are Francisco Aruca, Max Castro and myself.
But it is important that I add many others that are as important, and at times
even more important, as the three of us. I shall surely miss someone’s name, but
if I do, please don’t take it personally. People in Havana like Manuel Alberto
Ramy and German Piniella make the news from Cuba and Latin America come alive
with a feel you would never get in Miami. Saul Landau, who is probably our most
widely read columnist, I cannot forget. There are others who collaborate with
columns like the B.S. Detector. And there are persons who work behind the scenes
to make the “magic” happen. They include Francisco, Delby, and Aidil. And still
others who made it all happen at the beginning, like the original webmeister
Michelle and her successor Rafael.
What I am trying to tell
you, our readers, is that Progreso Weekly is mostly a labor of love – and many
of us feel, of necessity. The few who get paid for their work, get paid very
little. And most everyone deserves quite a lot.
Finally, a special thanks
to Jack King for helping us spread the word. Miami needs alternative media
sources, for sure, and that’s one of the jobs we try to accomplish week in and
week out.
Let me end by offering a
challenge. Over the past three years we’ve actually broken some important
stories here in Miami – although I will emphasize that that is not what we do.
We are not investigative journalists. But we are good at what we do.
So my challenge is to The Miami Herald. It is time
Miami’s only major daily newspaper recognized the fact that we exist – and
helped us to spread the word. If only, I feel, to help Miami progress to a
better place than where it presently is.
And if you (The Miami
Herald) help us, we’d be glad to take the brunt of the heat for you. By now
Progreso Weekly and Progreso Semanal collaborators are all experts at dealing
with that Miami heat.
Let us hear from you
I would like to know how
you feel about Progreso Weekly. Under tough circumstances, we continue to
improve our product. For example, last week we kicked off our weekly Progreso
poll. Do you like it? Do you have any suggestions as to future questions to ask
our readers?
Remember, you can choose to
express your feelings, and then click vote to let everyone know. Although not
scientific, if gives us a reading on how you feel on the issues.
As for the near future, we
are looking to enhance the readers’ participation in Progreso Weekly. So, don’t
be surprised when you see bigger and much better things soon.
|
