In a country where literacy rates remain low, electricity supply is unreliable, and internet penetration is uneven, radio broadcasting in Haitian Creole has historically served as the primary means by which most Haitians access news, information, and public debate. In 2019, that role was more important than ever, as the country’s political crisis created an enormous demand for accurate information and a platform for diverse voices.
Haiti has hundreds of radio stations, ranging from large Port-au-Prince operations with professional studios and news teams to community stations broadcasting from provincial towns on shoestring budgets. Together, they constitute a vibrant, cacophonous, sometimes chaotic but enormously important communications ecosystem.
During the crisis of 2019, radio stations faced both extraordinary demand and significant risks. Stations that broadcast opposition viewpoints reported pressure and threats. Journalists covering protest marches were sometimes targeted by security forces or by demonstrators who suspected them of bias. Several radio stations reported receiving threatening calls or visits after airing programming that powerful actors found uncomfortable.
Journalist protection organizations called for the safety of media workers to be respected and for the government to investigate threats against journalists. The free flow of information, they argued, was not just a democratic principle but a practical necessity in a crisis — it was how Haitians navigated a dangerous environment and held the powerful accountable.