Radio Haiti-Inter
Encyclopedia
Radio Haiti-Inter was the first independent radio station
in Haiti
. The station was notable for its use of the Kreyòl
language, spoken by most Haitians, while most other media broadcast in French, and also for its broadcasting of international and local news.
, who started working at the station as a reporter, bought the lease to the station in 1968. The station was the target of various attacks by oppressive government regimes throughout its history, due to the democratic and anti-corruption stance of Dominique.
In 1980 the Haitian regime closed the station and arrested some station journalists, and Dominique was forced into exile. The station resumed its activity in 1986 after the fall of Jean-Claude Duvalier
, but closed again in 1991 after the coup d'état against Jean-Bertrand Aristide
. The station reopened in 1994 after Aristide's return.
Jean Dominique was assassinated on April 3rd, 2000 upon attempting to enter the station. A station employee Jean-Claude Louissaint was also killed in the attack.
The station continued to broadcast for 3 years after Dominique's death, helmed by his wife Michèle Montas
. Radio Haiti-Inter ended broadcasting in 2003, due to threats against Montas and other employees.
The station and the story of its founder was documented in Jonathan Demme's
film The Agronomist
.
Radio station
Radio broadcasting is a one-way wireless transmission over radio waves intended to reach a wide audience. Stations can be linked in radio networks to broadcast a common radio format, either in broadcast syndication or simulcast or both...
in Haiti
Haiti
Haiti , officially the Republic of Haiti , is a Caribbean country. It occupies the western, smaller portion of the island of Hispaniola, in the Greater Antillean archipelago, which it shares with the Dominican Republic. Ayiti was the indigenous Taíno or Amerindian name for the island...
. The station was notable for its use of the Kreyòl
Haitian Creole language
Haitian Creole language , often called simply Creole or Kreyòl, is a language spoken in Haiti by about twelve million people, which includes all Haitians in Haiti and via emigration, by about two to three million speakers residing in the Bahamas, Cuba, Canada, France, Cayman Islands, French...
language, spoken by most Haitians, while most other media broadcast in French, and also for its broadcasting of international and local news.
History
The station was founded as Radio Haiti and was broadcast on both AM and FM and later renamed to Radio Haiti-Inter. Jean DominiqueJean Dominique
Jean Léopold Dominique was a noted Haïtian journalist who spoke out against successive dictatorships. He was one of the first people in Haïti to broadcast in Kreyòl, the language spoken by most of the populace...
, who started working at the station as a reporter, bought the lease to the station in 1968. The station was the target of various attacks by oppressive government regimes throughout its history, due to the democratic and anti-corruption stance of Dominique.
In 1980 the Haitian regime closed the station and arrested some station journalists, and Dominique was forced into exile. The station resumed its activity in 1986 after the fall of Jean-Claude Duvalier
Jean-Claude Duvalier
Jean-Claude Duvalier, nicknamed "Bébé Doc" or "Baby Doc" was the President of Haiti from 1971 until his overthrow by a popular uprising in 1986. He succeeded his father, François "Papa Doc" Duvalier, as the ruler of Haiti upon his father's death in 1971...
, but closed again in 1991 after the coup d'état against Jean-Bertrand Aristide
Jean-Bertrand Aristide
Jean-Bertrand Aristide is a Haitian former Catholic priest and politician who served as Haiti's first democratically elected president. A proponent of liberation theology, Aristide was appointed to a parish in Port-au-Prince in 1982 after completing his studies...
. The station reopened in 1994 after Aristide's return.
Jean Dominique was assassinated on April 3rd, 2000 upon attempting to enter the station. A station employee Jean-Claude Louissaint was also killed in the attack.
The station continued to broadcast for 3 years after Dominique's death, helmed by his wife Michèle Montas
Michèle Montas
Michèle Montas is an award-winning journalist from Haiti and the former Spokesperson under UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon . Prior to her appointment, Montas headed the French unit of UN Radio...
. Radio Haiti-Inter ended broadcasting in 2003, due to threats against Montas and other employees.
The station and the story of its founder was documented in Jonathan Demme's
Jonathan Demme
Robert Jonathan Demme is an American filmmaker, producer and screenwriter. Best known for directing The Silence of the Lambs, which won him the Academy Award for Best Director, he has also directed the acclaimed movies Philadelphia, Rachel Getting Married, the Talking Heads concert movie Stop...
film The Agronomist
The Agronomist
The Agronomist is a 2003 American documentary directed by Jonathan Demme, and starring Jean Dominique. The documentary follows the life of Dominique, who ran Haiti's first independent radio station, Radio Haiti-Inter, during multiple repressive regimes....
.