Latin America & the Caribbean

Honduras

{This graph represents scores that have been modified by CIMA so that higher scores indicate a better media situation. It is intended to show trends over time; each index measures significantly different factors of press freedom. To see an explanation for how this graph was created, click here.}
 

Reporters Without Borders Description:

Honduras became the world’s most dangerous country for the media in 2010 with a total of seven journalists slain in the first three months, and three others fleeing abroad. Five journalists were gunned down in March alone: Joseph Ochoa of privately-owned TV station Canal 51; David Meza Montesinos, a reporter for local radio station El Patio, TV station Abriendo Brecha and national radio station Radio América; Nahúm Palacios, the news editor of Televisora de Aguán-Canal 5; and Bayardo Mairena and Manuel Juárez of Radio Nacional de Honduras. Radio W105 presenter Luis Antonio Chévez Hernández was gunned down in San Pedro Sula on 12 April, while Georgino Orellana, a programme producer and presenter for Televisión de Honduras, was shot dead in the same city just eight days later. Two Globo TV journalists who worked at the president’s office before the June 2009 coup were kidnapped and tortured in February because of their opposition to his removal. They fled to Nicaragua after being released. José Alemán, a reporter for Radio América and the Diario Tiempo newspaper, also fled the country after a murder attempt on 26 March.

Read more on RSF’s site…

The June coup that ousted President Manuel Zelaya, along with the bitter stalemate that ensued, Six journalists were murdered in a seven-week span, with three more slain by year's end, a rash of killings that was made all the more shocking by the government's careless and dismissive response. Inattentive and botched investigative work yielded the arrests of but two suspects in all of the killings, and a judge quickly dismissed charges against them. CPJ found that at least three of the victims were slain in direct relation to their work, and it continued to investigate the other cases in late year.

Read more on CPJ’s site...

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