Thanks for your comment. My issue isn’t so much with Yoani herself as it is with international media who have seized upon her as “Cuba’s blogger,” as if she is the only blogger in Cuba. Showering her with journalism prizes and other awards and superlatives, 1 of the top 100 blogs in the world, for example, without really taking a more in-depth look at blogging in Cuba (much less a more nuanced view of “dissidents” within Cuba). I mean, the fact that Time thought she was a man shows just how little effort went into (and often goes into) learning more about a person who’s been picked up by other media outlets and touted as “the next big thing.”

I agree that Yoani has played a really important role in forcing dialogue in Cuba (and outside the island). But to focus on her as the only person doing so is, I think, shoddy reporting and it’s also reductionistic.

She was the first independent blogger in Cube with a blog including her name and photo. She was mentioned by Fidel Castro. She confronted personally Mariela Castro, the daughter of Raul Castro, in a public conference. She took a microphone in a packed room in the Centro Wilfredo Lam in front of a vice-minister, party members and the Cuban TV to demand freedom of speech. Recently she entered in a public debate from which she was barred, disguised with a blog wig, and again demanded freedom of speech.

Yoani Sánchez is made of a different stuff. She could become president of Cuba.

Now I’ll admit this isn’t always true– you may recall that I was as giddy as a little girl around this time last year when I landed an interview with a well-known chef. But it was largely because of my interview with him–which tanked after about 10 minutes–and because of similar experiences covering or being exposed to people who’ve gained that kind of celebrity or media traction, I’ve come to realize that so much of the aura that surrounds them is manufactured hype. I’m either interested in ignoring them altogether (which tends to be my inclination) or getting at aspects of them that haven’t been examined (which was the case with the chef).