Yoani Sánchez

Who Is Yoani Sánchez?

Yoani Sánchez is a renowned Cuban journalist and activist, known for her role as the director of the digital news outlet 14ymedio.com and her influential work advocating for freedom of expression in Cuba. With a prominent background in innovation, technology, and social media, Yoani has used these platforms to shed light on the Cuban reality through her blog Generación Y, which gained international fame despite being censored in her home country. Her writings have been translated into more than 17 languages, inspiring millions of readers worldwide. Foreign Policy magazine named her one of the “Top 10 Most Influential Latin American Intellectuals,” and her work has been praised by global figures like Barack Obama.

What is her Background?

Yoani Sánchez began her career as a philologist, specializing in contemporary Latin American literature, before becoming one of the most prominent voices in digital activism in Cuba. In 2007, she launched her blog Generación Y, which quickly became a crucial space for narrating daily life in Cuba under an authoritarian regime. Although her blog was censored in Cuba, it was accessible internationally, accumulating millions of monthly visits.
Sánchez has been honored with several prestigious awards, including the Ortega y Gasset Prize for digital journalism, the World Press Freedom Hero Award, and the Prince Claus Award. Time magazine included her in their list of the “100 Most Influential People” in 2008, and she became the first blogger to receive the prestigious Maria Moors Cabot award. Her work has been recognized for its ability to use technology as a tool for resistance and freedom of expression in repressive contexts.