Media in Haiti

Haiti has a functioning but highly fragmented media system. It includes print publications, radio and television news, online media, news agencies, social networks, podcasts and streaming services. Radio is especially important for local news, emergency information, community resilience and contact with the Haitian diaspora. More than 700 radio and television stations have been reported, although RSF states that only about half are licensed by CONATEL, Haiti's telecommunications and frequency regulator. RTNH, including RNH and TNH, forms the main state media structure, but a reliably documented independent public-service broadcasting status is not established. Access differs sharply by region and household resources. In 2024, internet use reached about 48% of the population, with approximately 3.49 million mobile-broadband subscriptions. Digicel and Natcom are the main mobile networks. Example prepaid offers include Digicel's 300 MB for one day at HTG 22.5 and 1 GB for one day at HTG 50; Natcom lists 24-hour, 7-day, 15-day and 30-day packages at Gdes 119, 699, 1,499 and 2,799. Prices, coverage and electricity availability change, so current provider information is needed before relying on an online service. UNICEF and ITU reported in 2020 that 79% of school-age children had no internet at home; that figure is historical and needs updating before use as a current measure. Television reaches audiences through terrestrial broadcasting, cable, encrypted services and online distribution. TeleHaiti lists packages from 94 channels for USD 9.99 per month to 174 channels for USD 39.99. Canal+ Haïti lists packages from 12 channels at 350 Gdes per month to 152 channels at 3,700 Gdes. Netflix is available in Haiti from USD 3.99 per month. Online viewing still requires a suitable device, an internet connection, electricity and the ability to pay. Local channels often distribute live news and other programming through their websites, YouTube and social media. No single national public streaming service is reliably documented. A radio or television station cannot rely on an MICT authorization alone. The Ministère de l’Intérieur et des Collectivités Territoriales provides a preliminary authorization for a radio station, while the relevant concession and frequency permit involve CONATEL; a telecommunications concession may also involve the Ministère des Travaux publics, Transports et Communications. Applications generally identify the station, address, département, commune, owner, contact details, medium and category, such as commercial, community, religious or educational broadcasting. Operating outside the applicable technical and licensing rules is treated by CONATEL as illegal. Reported annual fees vary by medium and location: commercial radio ranges from USD 3,000 in Port-au-Prince to USD 1,000 in other cities, cultural or religious radio from USD 2,000 to USD 1,000, and analogue commercial television from USD 8,000 to USD 3,000. Community radio is reported at Gdes 3,000 per year, while other frequency and analogue television charges are reported at Gdes 24,000 and Gdes 60,000 per year. Several regimes have seven-year terms, while the reported analogue commercial television term is five years. Community radio is not authorized in the Port-au-Prince metropolitan area or département capitals under the cited information, although fee relief may be possible in qualifying circumstances. The Constitution protects freedom of expression. Article 28-1 provides that journalistic activity does not require prior authorization or censorship, subject to the stated constitutional exception concerning war. Article 28-2 protects journalistic sources and requires attention to authenticity, accuracy and professional ethics. Article 28-3 places press offenses under criminal law. Copyright matters fall under BHDA, Haiti's copyright office, created under the 2005 decree. A 2025 decree reported by HaitiDocs addresses online and social media matters including defamation, false news, cyberharassment and hate speech; its official implementation and the current original legal texts should be checked before relying on it for legal advice. Media also have to respect dignity, youth protection, public order, national security, public health and the rights of others. Journalists face serious practical risks, including threats, attacks, kidnapping, killing, newsroom attacks and impunity. RSF's 2026 index places Haiti at 107 of 180 countries, with a security indicator ranking of 132. The MCC, the Ministère de la Culture et de la Communication, reported cases including the kidnappings of Junior Célestin and Osnel Espérance. Formal protection is not reliably available. AHpsy and CMEL have supported psychosocial assistance, including individual therapy, peer support and resilience work after attacks; such help is project-based or crisis-based rather than a universal state protection or social-security procedure. Social media are widely used through mobile phones to publish, comment, share, livestream and send civic information. Natcom offers bundles that include WhatsApp. Users should check the source, publication date, image or video context and confirmation from several independent media outlets or public authorities before sharing a claim. Risks include disinformation, manipulation, privacy loss, sexual exploitation, cyberbullying, hate speech, data misuse and recruitment. Haiti has no reliably documented single nationwide platform regulator covering all these risks in this topic's scope. Participation can take place through community radio, listener feedback, SMS, U-Report, online media, social networks and podcasts. UNICEF Haiti's U-Report used free SMS participation and had more than 28,000 young registrants after about one and a half years in 2021, with discussions on children's, health and education issues. The MCC's “Mardis de la Nation” provided a recurring press and civic dialogue format in 2025, and a national francophone podcast competition for young creators was reported in 2026. Participation does not automatically provide reach, verification or protection. A phone, network access and, for online participation, data and electricity remain practical conditions.