A shake-up at Cuba two main newspapers might signal changes on the horizon for the Communist Island.  This follows speakers at the Cuban Communist Party congress over the summer calling for less censorship and secrecy.

“Granma” is the Politburo's official newspaper, and its new editor is Pelayo Terry Cuervo, a 21st Century guy with a Twitter account and who has spoken in favor of using social media to promote dialogue.  Terry is moving on from his previous position as editor of “Juventud Rebelde”, the daily newspaper of the Communist Party’s youth wing, where his deputy, Marina Menendez, will replace him.

It could the first step towards more openness in the state controlled Cuban media, reporting at the pleasure of the Castro Brothers since 1959.  Both papers tend to adhere to old-school Communist orthodoxy, reporting positive stories about things Cuba is good at along with lengthy recollections of revolutionary struggle in the 1950s.  Cubans tend to complain the papers are as boring as watching Fidel Castro’s beard grow.

But the personnel swaps are the latest in gradual changes in Cuba.  In January, several aging Communist figures, ranging in age from 65 to 81 years old were swept out.  Raul Castro at the time noted it wasn’t punitive, just time for a change.

Raul Castro himself said he’s stepping down in 2018.  His heir apparent is Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez, a man born after the revolution who gained the Castros’ trust by successfully managing foreign investment in the tourism sector.