Media Situation in Samoa

The situation of the media in Samoa is no exemption from the rest of the world. We have divided this brief report in two main areas.

Secular Media

This includes both private and government-owned media.

Privately-owned media:

Newspapers: there are 6 local newspapers ¡V 5 weekly, 1 daily, 4 of the weekly papers are in Samoan and two are bilingual.

Radio: There are two radio stations using the FM frequency. One is Christian radio and the other is general.

TV: GBN is in Samoa mainly for Christian programmes.

Cinema/video stores: There are two cinemas and seven video stores in Apia, the capital.

Other: access to Internet, computers, email and modern technology of communication is taking their place in Samoa.

Government-owned media:

The government of Samoa own and control a newspaper, a radio and a TV station.

Church Media

Each of the three mainline churches, namely CCCS, Catholic and Methodist own a newsletter. Surprisingly the three newsletters are closely related by their names.

CCCS: Sulu Samoa: Samoan Light (founded in 1839 and has 10,000 copies, published monthly)

Methodist: Fetu Ao: Morning Star (founded in 1909 and has 5000 copies, published bimonthly)

Catholic: Tautai: Compass (founded in 1955 and has 5,000 copies, published bimonthly)

Evidently, the understanding of media by the churches is a ¡§guidance of a journey¡¨ in the dark. The three main concerns of these newsletters since their establishments are:

To evangelise
To communicate
To record
Printing and bookshops: Other churches in Samoa distribute their handouts, pamphlets and magazines on the streets