The Agencia Cubana de Noticias (ACN) is Cuba’s official state news agency. It was founded on May 21, 1974, originally named the Agencia de Información Nacional (AIN), and was rebranded as ACN in 2015 to reflect its expanded national and international role. ACN produces news content in Spanish and offers translations into English, French, Portuguese, and Russian. Its services include text news, radio segments, photography, and teletext. The agency operates a central newsroom in Havana and maintains correspondents in all Cuban provinces and the special municipality of Isla de la Juventud. As of 2024, ACN employs approximately 120 journalists and publishes around 20,000 news items annually.
Media assets
News agency: ACN
State Media Matrix Typology
Ownership and governance
ACN is owned and operated by the Cuban government and functions under the oversight of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Cuba. Its editorial direction aligns with the party’s communication policies.
Source of funding and budget
There is no publicly available detailed information regarding ACN’s budget. However, it is widely understood that the agency is primarily funded through government allocations, according to journalists and experts interviewed for this report in February 2025. Additionally, ACN generates supplementary income by providing news services to approximately 100 clients, including international wire services, television and radio stations, and print media companies.
Editorial independence
ACN’s editorial content predominantly reflects the perspectives and policies of the Cuban government. While the agency covers a range of topics, including sports and cultural events, its political reporting consistently portrays government officials and initiatives in a favorable light.
There is no legal framework establishing ACN’s editorial independence, nor is there an independent oversight mechanism to assess its journalistic practices.
May 2025