Media Freedom in American Samoa

American Samoa is a United States territory in the South Pacific. Recently she celebrated with pride 100 years of political relationships with the United States. Because of these historical relations, the people of the territory enjoyed a lot of privileges accorded to nationals of the United States. Besides free and unobstructed access to the United States, American Samoa share in much the same benefits enjoyed by the people living in the mainland US. One of such benefit is access to the many ways by which information is shared around the world today. In this brief report I will try to summarise the various forms available for information sharing in American Samoa.

The words ¡§media¡¨ and ¡§medium¡¨ both mean ways of ¡§effecting and conveying something.¡¨ They refer to ¡§channels of communication¡¨ of which a publication, a broadcast and a ¡§mode of artistic expression¡¨ are examples. In thinking and talking therefore about the ¡§media situation¡¨ in our respective countries, we are exploring and sharing what means and channels are available in our countries for the dissemination of information.

American Samoa, like many other islands, continues to us the channels we can consider traditional. Besides, there are also new ways that have come with the new technological advances in the world. I will list and discuss briefly the channels of communication under the above-mentioned two categories.

1. Traditional channels

Radio broadcasting: This remains the most popular and far-reaching channel, touching people in all regions of the country. For many people in American Samoa, their share of news and information only come through the radio medium.

The Written and circulated word: Daily and weekly newspapers take their places as media for information sharing in the country. Though much of their reporting needs checking to minimize the elements of ¡§bias¡¨ that sometimes go unchecked, they provide a constant source of information for the people.

Writing books and publishing them for circulation is also a channel of information being utilised in American Samoa. Recently, three books by the Samoan author, Fofo I. F. Sunia, were published and circulated. Two of these books have been written in Samoan; one of which is being used as a textbook in public schools for the study of Samoan culture. People in all sectors of life are being encouraged to research and write for publication.

The Uaealesi Mosooi or Coconut Wireless: This is a very popular form of information circulation in the islands. It can result in the quick dissemination of information. The only problem with this form of media is the question of reliability as it mainly reports the perspective and interests of the reporter.

2. New Channels

Television: American Samoa was among the first islands to operate a television station. It was started by the American administrations of the territory in the 1960s for educational purposes. Throughout the last 40 years, television has brought into Samoan homes news and events happening thousands of miles away. Through this form of media, Samoans have also seen other ways of life with all their positive and negative values.

Videos and films: While these provide most of the entertainment for the people, they are also very important media for information. American Samoa has its fair share of the entertainment through videos and films.

Computer, Internet and Email: The latest innovations in the information highways of the world have also hit American Samoa as most other islands of the Pacific. I do not need to elaborate on these media forms of communications, for we all know them. Let me simply say that these have opened new horizons, which will open to you in the privacy of your home and your office, the whole world by touching a few buttons.

Before closing, I would like to share the media forms used by our Seminary. Recently, with funds from the Council of World Mission, Kanana Fou opened a new computer lab. This has now enabled students the world of research and writing through Internet. Hopefully, this is also the beginning of enabling our constituency to start newsletter and forms of informing our church and family of the work at Kanana Fou.

Our students have been given the opportunity of sharing the gospel every morning on television. We have been given a spot of five to 10 minutes to lead our people in devotion each day, when our government-operated channels begin. This has been a blessing to our Seminary.

Our church, however, has a bimonthly newspaper, and has a spot on the radio daily to present a message from the Bible to our people. Weekly, every Sunday evening, our church is one of the denominations that put on half-hour programme on worship on television.