Online media in Haiti has surged to over 100 outlets today. The growth of this sector has fundamentally changed how Haitians consume information: a 2020 study found that 98% of Haitian respondents now rely on the internet for their news.
While some view digital-only outlets as valuable additions to Haiti's media landscape, others argue that they contribute significantly to the proliferation of false content, through misleading headlines and the publishing of mis- and disinformation.
Specific challenges facing online media in Haiti
Online media outlets in Haiti grapple with two primary challenges: funding and internet quality. Many institutions, for instance, are skeptical about the commercial potential of digital media and prefer to fund more traditional outlets. The poor quality of the internet, meanwhile, often causes delays in publishing information.
These obstacles notwithstanding, traditional and online media coexist and influence one another. Many traditional media outlets are discovering that their audiences are becoming fragmented and are striving to maintain an online presence to stay relevant.
Guerking Souffrant, CEO of the digital news outlet, Passion Info Plus, argued that online media benefits Haitians by offering immediate, real-time access to information. He acknowledged, however, that not all online outlets are legitimate.
"Online media is a package: you must register, create a website, and have additional platforms on social networks to relay information. A person cannot claim to possess an online media outlet if they only have a Facebook page or an account to share content," he said.
Meanwhile, people known as "telephone men" – individuals who use their phones to disseminate content that often falls short of journalistic standards – often fuel the spread of misinformation. These people, noted Souffran, treat Facebook as a business, generating all kinds of content to boost their audience and earn money. "One doesn't need to be a journalist to engage in this," he said, though noting that many might perceive these individuals as journalists.
Eddy Trofort, editor-in-chief of Haiti Press Network and a pioneer in online media in the country, believes that the unregulated growth of online journalism is devaluing news coverage through "unprofessional practices." However, he also noted that digital media has helped increase transparency.
"The expansion of online media has significantly disrupted the retention of information,” he said. “The swift circulation of news makes it increasingly difficult for official bodies to conceal certain facts. With a smartphone, information can be quickly transmitted, forcing officials to respond to what is observed in real time.”
Regulation and ethics
Godson Lubrun, president of the Haitian Online Media Association (AHML), said that the Haitian government, in collaboration with civil society, should create a legal framework to regulate online media.
"Currently, an online media owner faces no regulations to establish and operate as an official online media outlet. Moreover, the State has yet to define the eligibility criteria for becoming a journalist in Haiti. This lack of a legal framework for online media and journalism professionals is a major challenge," he said.
This is not a problem unique to online media, Trofort said. "Traditional media face just as many abuses as the modern online communication sector," he said. He suggested that media outlets hold working sessions with legal professionals to develop legislation proposals.
Media associations should also provide training for journalists on topics such as combating mis- and disinformation, and information processing, urged Souffrant. Training should not only empower professionals but also enhance their ability to engage citizens in public affairs, Lubrun said: "It is crucial to train them on issues related to the common good, which should not be the sole responsibility of decision-makers.”
AHML plans to organize a range of activities to train Haitian journalists, supply them with protective equipment, support initiatives to develop a legal framework for media, and advocate for a responsible online press.
Photo by Heather Suggitt on Unsplash.
This article was originally published on IJNet French and translated by IJNet French Translation Nourredine Bessadi.
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