Radio Nacional de Honduras (RNH) is a radio broadcaster that launched operations in March 1976 when Honduras was governed by a military junta. The broadcaster has always been dependent on the government for its funding. Today, the radio covers a limited area of Honduras, including the capital city of Tegucigalpa and the towns San Pedro Sula, Santa Bárbara, Copán, Ocotepeque and Lempira.
Media assets
Radio: Radio Nacional de Honduras (RNH)
State Media Matrix Typology: State-Controlled (SC)
Ownership and governance
Just as TNH, RNH is directly subordinated to the presidential office, specifically to the Office for Communication and Presidential Strategy. The director of RNH is appointed directly by the President of the Republic, the Presidential Office Press Secretary and the Minister of Communication and Strategy, by rotation.
Source of funding and budget
The Secretariat of the Honduran Presidency allocates part of its budget to RNH, which is fully dependent on state funding to operate. Advertising is not allowed on state media (that is the case of both TNH and RNH). In recent years, RNH has been facing significant cuts in its funding, which prevented the station from investing in modernizing its operations.
Editorial independence
The presidency’s Office of Communication and Strategy fully controls the content and editorial line of RNH. Its programs never move away from the official propaganda of the government, being constantly favorable to the government. RNH shows a clearly propagandistic tone in its content. For example, every Saturday at 10 a.m. RNH airs a show called La Patrulla (The Patrol) that is produced by the national police to promote its work among people. The show also presents friendly interviews with high officials who are given space to talk mostly about their achievements.
No domestic statute and no independent assessment/oversight mechanism in charge of validating the independence of RNH have been identified. The Office of Communication and Presidential Strategy is responsible for the editorial policy of the station.
August 2023