Associated Press
TEGUCIGALPA, Honduras - Whether news outlets in Honduras were operating freely or under censorship Wednesday in the wake of a military coup seemed to depend on their political inclinations.
Television and radio stations that support exiled President Manuel Zelaya complained of being forced off the air or having their operations disrupted by soldiers under orders from the new government, while those in favor of the new administration say they have operated unfettered.
Two pro-Zelaya television stations, channels 36 and 50, had been shut down as of Wednesday, out of approximately 20 over-the-air stations in Tegucigalpa.
"They've taken off the air everyone who does not support the coup," said Santos Gonzalez, a Channel 50 producer and reporter who was trying to cover pro-Zelaya marches in Tegucigalpa despite his employer's situation.
Radio Globo went off the air briefly Wednesday after airing a telephone interview with Zelaya in Panama. Government officials said they did not know anything about it.
"We plow on even though they have attempted to crush us," Radio Globo announcers barked over the radio.
The government-operated Channel 8, located inside the heavily guarded presidential palace, had also gone dark but was back on the air Wednesday. In place of Zelaya, who often used the channel to lambaste the rich, announcers called for national prayer and reconciliation.
Asked about a crackdown on the news media, Roberto Micheletti, the congressional leader named to replace Zelaya, said Tuesday he planned to meet with journalists who haven't been allowed to work and listen to their complaints, but he would not say when. He specifically mentioned wanting to meet with the owner of Channel 36, Esdras Amado Lopez, who has gone into hiding.
Most of the TV stations broadcasting Wednesday devoted coverage to demonstrations in favor of Micheletti, and all but ignored those supporting Zelaya. Reports on the radio airwaves were a bit more balanced but still delivered more information on Micheletti supporters than Zelaya backers.
Reporters Without Borders issued a statement Wednesday saying coup coverage by TV stations that have resumed broadcasting "is either closely controlled or nonexistent."
In terms of international news media, the organization noted that CNN can only be accessed on the Internet and said that is also the case with Telesur, which is based in Venezuela. Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is firmly on Zelaya's side.
On Monday, Honduran soldiers armed with rifles detained seven international journalists covering the aftermath of a military coup, four from The Associated Press and three from Telesur. They were freed unhurt a short time later.
Not all news media outlets were unhappy with their new circumstances.
"We are doing our jobs with no trouble from the new government," said Nelson Garcia, news editor for the newspaper La Prensa, which has the largest circulation in Honduras.
"With the previous president we felt pressure because we harshly criticized his actions," Garcia said.
An executive at one of Honduras' principal radio stations, HRN, told The Associated Press that station employees had received threats from members of a leftist bloc supporting Zelaya, but not from the new government.
"We can say anything we want because the government isn't restricting access to the distribution and publication of news," he said.
The executive asked not to be identified because he was afraid of repercussions from Zelaya supporters. He said 15 of them tried to break into the radio station but police turned them back.
Reporters Without Borders identified both La Prensa and HRN as Micheletti-government supporters.