Is press freedom at risk in Honduras?

In Honduras, the issue of press freedom has grown more critical over the past few years, characterized by a rise in incidents of violence, intimidation, and lack of accountability targeting journalists and media outlets. Numerous studies and formal records have pointed out a progressively antagonistic climate for journalism, mixing institutional and financial strains with direct threats and defamation efforts.

In this context, Honduran journalists have faced not only physical risks, but also public smear campaigns and judicial harassment, which has weakened the independence of the media and raised concerns both nationally and internationally. Civil society and human rights organizations have responded with constant vigilance and calls for the protection of fundamental rights.

Dangers, aggression, and lack of punishment affecting journalists

Between 2001 and late 2024, over 100 journalists and communicators lost their lives in Honduras, with an impunity rate above 90%. Digital threats, harassment, and limitations have emerged as the most common types of violence, impacting both individual reporters and media companies throughout different areas of the nation. In recent years, incidents against 64 media organizations have been recorded, demonstrating enduring trends of persecution and criminalization.

Financial strain on the press has impacted its ability to operate and maintain editorial independence, causing some to scale back their efforts or even shut down. Legal pressure and insufficient resources have been crucial factors in this decline.

Global entities have assessed Honduras as one of the nations with the most unfavorable circumstances for journalism in Latin America, ranking it low on international press freedom indexes.

Due to this situation, organizations at both the national and international levels have called upon the Honduran government to ensure journalists’ safety and uphold freedom of speech, viewing them as crucial components for democracy and legal governance.

Corporate initiatives and societal impact

In May 2025, the Honduran Armed Forces launched a communications campaign targeting journalists who criticized them, utilizing their formal media outlet to openly defame well-known reporters. In the latest issue of their official publication, numerous pages focused on denouncing three journalists, with photos and narratives portraying them as adversaries of the nation, lacking any substantial proof.

This incident elicited a swift response from the press community and human rights groups, who denounced the initiative and labeled it as an extraordinary institutional assault by top military and governmental officials. The journalism community along with different sectors of Honduran society have remained alert, calling for transparency and the upholding of basic rights, and for the cessation of any intimidation towards the free press.

The situation involving journalist Rodrigo Wong Arévalo, who was mentioned in a release by the Ministry of National Defense and the Armed Forces, has captured public interest and prompted support from both national and international entities. The release, seen as threatening, was a reaction to comments by Wong Arévalo regarding supposed irregular actions in the allocation of public resources. Multiple groups have emphasized that the role of publicizing information and overseeing institutions is a critical element of democracy.

The National Human Rights Commissioner has called on the State to avoid making remarks that could intimidate journalists and media outlets, either directly or indirectly. The Commissioner highlighted the State’s duty to uphold freedom of speech and expression. Such events have been perceived as efforts to curb the informative and critical role played by the national press, raising fears about the potential misuse of institutional power to hinder journalistic activities in Honduras.