Santa Rosa de Copán, Honduras — Journalist Javier Antonio Hércules Salinas, a reporter for the local television channel A Todo Noticias (ATN), was fatally shot in Santa Rosa de Copán despite being under official state protection, raising serious concerns about the effectiveness of mechanisms intended to safeguard media workers in Honduras and the broader Latin American region.
According to Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Hércules Salinas was a recognized figure in local journalism, known for his reporting on political and social issues. His death adds to a troubling pattern of violence against journalists in the region and calls into question the adequacy of state-led protection programs that are often underfunded, poorly implemented, or lacking coordination with law enforcement.
The attack occurred amid a broader regional context of violence against media professionals. On May 27, Brazilian journalist Luis Augusto Carneiro da Costa was killed, followed by the murder of José Carlos González Herrera in Mexico on May 15. All three were either under threat or had previously sought protection, according to media freedom organizations.
The killing of Hércules Salinas highlights the structural weaknesses in Honduras’ national protection mechanism for journalists and human rights defenders, which has come under frequent criticism from civil society groups and international watchdogs. Despite being officially enrolled in the protection program, details surrounding the specific measures afforded to Hércules Salinas have not been made public.
Latin America remains one of the most dangerous regions in the world for journalists, with impunity for crimes against the press remaining alarmingly high. According to RSF’s 2024 Press Freedom Index, countries such as Honduras, Mexico, and Brazil continue to experience lethal levels of violence against journalists, fueled by organized crime, political corruption, and inadequate institutional responses.
Press freedom advocates are calling on the Honduran government to launch a transparent and independent investigation into the murder of Hércules Salinas and to assess the efficacy of its journalist protection program. There are also renewed calls for regional governments to strengthen protections for media workers, including better risk assessments, rapid response protocols, and accountability for past killings.
As of June 2025, no arrests have been reported in connection with the murder. The international community, including human rights organizations and journalist unions, have condemned the killing and urged swift action to bring the perpetrators to justice.
Excerpts from article by Reporters Without Borders
