Editing Telecommunications in Nicaragua (section)

===Media restrictions===
Independent media are active and express a variety of views. The government, however, restricts media freedom through harassment, censorship, arbitrary application of [[libel]] laws, and use of national security justifications. Private individuals also harass media for criticizing the government. [[Daniel Ortega|President Ortega]] frequently uses a law that allows for government broadcasts of emergency messages to force national networks either to broadcast his speeches or to cease other programming temporarily during those times.<ref name=USDOS-CRHRP-Nicaragua-2012/>

The government continues to close opposition radio stations and cancel opposition television programs, allegedly for political reasons. It also employs vandalism, the seizure of privately owned broadcast equipment, and criminal defamation charges against media outlet owners or program hosts to limit freedom and diversity of the press. Opposition news sources report that generally they were not permitted to enter official government events and are denied interviews by government officials.<ref name=USDOS-CRHRP-Nicaragua-2012/>

In June 2012 the Nicaraguan Association for Human Rights (ANPDH) claimed that the [[Nicaraguan National Police]] (NNP) forcibly closed [[Somoto, Madriz|Somoto-based]] Television Channel 13 due to the station's reporting on government corruption. The owner of the station, Juan Carlos Pineda, claimed that NNP officials harassed and threatened him prior to the forced closure. There were no reports of an investigation, and at the end of 2012 the station remained closed.<ref name=USDOS-CRHRP-Nicaragua-2012/>

The Communications Research Centre of Nicaragua (CINCO) reported that control over television media by the [[Sandinista National Liberation Front]] (FSLN) and President Ortega strengthened throughout 2012. National television was increasingly either controlled by FSLN supporters or directly owned and administered by President Ortega's family members. Eight of the nine basic channels available were under direct FSLN influence.<ref name=USDOS-CRHRP-Nicaragua-2012/>

In general media outlets owned by the presidential family limited programming to progovernment or FSLN propaganda and campaign advertisements. Press and human rights organizations claimed that the use of state funds for official media placed opposition outlets at an unfair disadvantage.<ref name=USDOS-CRHRP-Nicaragua-2012/>

Some journalists practice [[self-censorship]], fearing economic and physical repercussions for investigative reporting on crime or official corruption.<ref name=USDOS-CRHRP-Nicaragua-2012/>