Miami Herald and El Nuevo Herald editors disagreed Tuesday on the appropriateness of work for Radio or TV Martí.

BY CHRISTINA HOAG

The editors of The Miami Herald and El Nuevo Herald differed sharply Tuesday over whether their journalists can appear as guests on TV and Radio Martí, the U.S. anti-Castro propaganda channels.

Under no circumstances, said Miami Herald Executive Editor Tom Fiedler. ''The U.S. government is on one side,'' he said. ``We really hold to the standard that we are the watchdogs of government.''

Yes, but not for money, said El Nuevo Herald Executive Editor Humberto Castelló. Cubans rely on TV and Radio Martí for information, he said: ``They have no free press.''

The divergent policies for two newsrooms under the same roof lie at the crux of the resignation of Jesús Díaz Jr., publisher for both, which stunned many employees at The Miami Herald Media Co.

The contrasting opinions also illustrate differing roles of journalism in Latin America and the United States -- and how that divide plays out in South Florida. American journalism today, unlike decades ago, prizes objectivity, while Latin American journalism may advocate for change.

''What you have here is a kind of clash of ideas and values,'' said Dario Moreno, an associate professor of political science at Florida International University.

Díaz quit after grappling with fallout from his firing of two El Nuevo Herald reporters and one freelancer who were paid by TV Martí.

On Tuesday, the journalists were offered their jobs back after further inquiries by management. The investigation showed that besides the three reporters, six other El Nuevo Herald staffers had done paid work for TV Martí in the past. All but one said their arrangements had been approved by El Nuevo's previous editor, the late Carlos Castaneda.

After a thorough review of federal documents, The Miami Herald found 49 full-time journalists or contributors to local media outlets who also received payments from Radio and TV Martí from October 2001 to August 2006.

They included eight El Nuevo staffers, paid between $125 and $175,000, and 29 freelancers who contribute to El Nuevo. They received between $100 and $110,000 over a five-year period.

Thirteen other journalists at several Miami media, including Channel 41, Diario Las Americas, Univision, Telemundo, Radio Mambi and WQBA, were listed.

A 2002 article in both papers revealed paid work of fired freelancer Olga Connor, but management did not act.

''We badly mismanaged our policies over time, and that's why we're reversing ourselves,'' said David Landsberg, named publisher Tuesday.

The firings hit the heart of El Nuevo's small newsroom, on the sixth floor of 1 Herald Plaza. Many staffers there fled the Castro regime, including Castelló. Several were political prisoners.

For those who have not lived as adults under a socialist regime, understanding the passion exiles harbor for bringing democracy to Cuba can be difficult, Castelló said at an employee meeting three weeks ago. Some exiles see it as their duty to do what they can to overturn the Castro government.

''It's very normal and natural for us, for the Cuban journalists,'' he said.

That view of advocacy journalism is common in Latin America. ''The problems there are overwhelming,'' said Leonardo Ferreira, associate dean and director of graduate studies at the University of Miami's School of Communication. ``Latin Americans see these types of instances as less disturbing because they feel so compelled to act. . . . They have a greater commitment to fighting for their beliefs.''

The clash between journalism styles is not unique to El Nuevo Herald. Hoy, the Spanish-language sister paper to the Chicago Tribune, ensures that its Latin American reporters know the paper has no alliances with parties or governments, often the case in their home countries, said editor-in-chief Alejandro Escalona.

Landsberg said he will enact one policy for both Miami newspapers on freelancing for Radio and TV Martí after he listens to all views. ''There will be a decision,'' he said.

Miami Herald staff writer Oscar Corral contributed to this report.