May 25 – Honduran Journalist Day
In Honduras, the Day of the Honduran Journalist is celebrated on May 25th of each year to recognize and celebrate the work of Honduran journalists and communicators, who are the main defenders of freedom of expression.
It was declared through an Executive Agreement on May 30th, 1930, by the then President of the Republic, Vicente Mejía Colindres, in recognition of the merits of journalists and with the purpose of stimulating the daily work carried out by these professionals in various media outlets, allowing the general public to be properly informed about what is happening on both national and international levels.
A bit of history
In 1830, the first printed newspaper in Honduras, «La Gaceta del Gobierno», was published. Exactly one hundred years later, on May 25th, 1930, the First National Congress of Journalists was celebrated. A few days later, at the request of the journalists’ meeting, then-President Vicente Mejía Colindres signed an agreement from the Ministry of Public Instruction creating the Day of the Journalist, which stated among its considerations that «the Press is a factor of positive importance for the culture of nations, the consolidation of peace, and the prestige of institutions,» and also argued that «it is the duty of the Government to perpetuate the events that mark an era of greatness in the social evolution of the country and to stimulate the work of those who practice the noble profession of journalists.»
Currently, the journalistic profession still fights for the freedom of expression, in a time when they face repression from various fronts, such as organized crime and delinquency, which, under the cloak of impunity, threaten and coerce to prevent the free exercise of information.
Pioneers of Honduran Journalism
Honduras has great figures in the history of Honduran journalism, some of whom were pioneers of modern journalism and also possessed the gift of the pen.
- Argentina Díaz Lozano
- Álvaro Contreras
- Alfonso Guillen Zelaya
- Froylán Turcios
- Juan Ramón Molina
- Ramón Amaya Amador
- Ramón Rosa
- Rafael Heliodoro Valle
International Day of the Journalist
The International Day of the Journalist is commemorated on September 8th in tribute to Czech journalist Julius Fucik, who was executed by the Nazis on September 8th, 1943.
