Yaidel Miguel Rodríguez Castro is one of those unstoppable journalists who feel the pulse of the people. Courageous, analytical, innovative… he navigates the intricacies of this complex yet beautiful profession every day.

He has garnered numerous accolades along his path. The World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters award, multiple appearances among the top performers in provincial press competitions, and the recent Distinction for Journalistic Merit for Lifetime Achievement are just some of the many honors he has received. However, he confesses: “When you don’t seek awards, they come to you… I work to ensure people have access to the news. I don’t believe these are personal achievements, but rather collective ones.”

He entered the world of journalism 15 years ago, after graduating with a degree in Education. At the time, he was working inside a museum when he received the offer that would change his life. The director of Radio Cabaniguán, in Jobabo, his hometown, heard him speak and suggested that he audition for a radio show. He did, and that would be the starting point for an unstoppable career in the streets and behind microphones.

The man who began as an assistant editor, somewhat skeptical about changing his career path, quickly fell in love with the station that embraced him like a son. “The first time I had to write a news report, a comment came out. I struggled to learn, but little by little, I got the hang of it,” he says. Ethics, a sense of belonging, sensitivity, and humanism have become pillars of his work. “You can’t be a good journalist if you don’t believe in what you do. You can’t talk about the bad habit of smoking with a cigarette between your lips,” he adds.

For Yaidel, Radio Cabaniguán is like his first home. “It’s where I spend most of my time; a different kind of school, one that teaches without you even realizing it. It transforms us; I’m not the same person I was 15 years ago.” He also created the station’s website, edits it, works as a freelancer, and manages the webmaster’s account.

With a wealth of anecdotes on his shoulders, he avoids complacency. He knows this is a profession where you learn something new every day. Thus, close to the pulse of the people, triangulating information, acknowledging or questioning when necessary, he treasures moving moments like when an elderly man arrived, tears in his eyes, at the municipal radio station to tell him about an unfair fine.

He is grateful to everyone who has contributed to his growth, from suggestions from colleagues like Pepe Alejandro, Yenima Díaz Velázquez, and others, to the support he has received from the provincial radio system’s management and his hometown of Cabaniguán.

For Yaidel, journalism is a philosophy of life. Food production, local development, and economic issues, in general, occupy a prominent place on his agenda, though he doesn't shy away from any topic. Since May 17, 2010, when he embraced the world of radio, journalism has been his driving force.

Thus, someone who never imagined he would become a reporter has won the hearts of the people in this work. “You have to tell the truth, with names and faces, but also be engaging and not neglect life stories. That's my approach.”