Honduras Political Orientation
Government
Government Type: Presidential Republic
Leader: President Xiomara Castro (as of November 2021)
Political Party: Libre
Political Position: Left
Press Freedom
MBFC’s Country Freedom Rating: 40.33 (Limited Freedom)
World Press Freedom Rank: Honduras 169/180
Since the 2009 coup, journalists in Honduras, especially those covering topics like drug trafficking and corruption, have faced heightened threats, making it one of the deadliest countries for media professionals in the Americas, as emphasized by Reporters Without Borders.
Media Ownership and Government Analysis
In Honduras, the media landscape is characterized by the dominance of a few influential conglomerates. Grupo OPSA is a significant player, owning major newspapers such as La Prensa, Diez, Estilo, and El Heraldo. El Periódico is another notable newspaper owned by late Former President Rafael Leonardo Callejas. Lastly, The Fundación Católica (Catholic Foundation) owns the newspapers Fides and Periódico Lenca.
In the television sector, Televicentro operates prominent channels like Canal 5 and Canal 7. Globo TV and Radio Globo are owned by the Rosenthal family. Jaime Rosenthal (1936-2019), a member of this family, was a prominent Honduran politician and a leader in the Liberal Party of Honduras. He established Banco Continental in 1974 but was labeled a narcotics trafficker in 2015. However, The U.S. Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) delisted Jaime Rosenthal and associated entities in 2020. Jaime Rosenthal’s passing was one of the factors that contributed to this decision. Another noteworthy entity is HCH Television Digital, short for “Hable Como Habla,” a news channel owned by Eduardo Maldonado, a 2008 Liberal Party presidential candidate.
In Honduras, the government, while not directly owning major media outlets, exerts significant influence over them. Many newspapers are owned by business figures with government ties or directly by politicians, and there is a notable lack of transparency in media ownership. Finally, this, combined with harassment of critics and self-censorship, severely limits press freedom in the country.
Last Updated on August 18, 2023 by Media Bias Fact Check
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