Brief: Gender in Samoan media

Currently the mainstream Samoan media is all owned by men while the top level in the newsroom is dominated by women. This is according to a recent survey by JAWS.

A breakdown:

Samoa Broadcasting Corporation
Owner: Government (represented by female)
Editor: female
Assistant Editor: male

TV3
Owner: male
Editor: female
Assistant Editor: female

Vaiala Beach TV
Owner: male
Editor: male
Assistant Editor: male

Samoa Observer
Owner: male
Editor: male
Assistant Editor: male

Newsline
Owner: male
Editor: female
Assistant Editor: female

Savali Newspaper
Owner: Government (represented by male)
Editor: male
Assitant Editor: male

LeSamoa Newspaper
Owner: male
Editor: male
Assistant Editor: female

Le Sulu Newspaper
Owner: Church (represented by male)
Editor: male
Assistant Editor: male

Radio Polynesia
Owner: male
Editor: female
Assistant Editor: male

Catholic Radio
Owner: Church (represented by male)
Editor: female
Assistant Editor: male

SBC for sale

There is no new yet on who is likely to win the bid for the Samoa Broadcasting Corporation sale. the State owned TV station was put up for sale earlier this year in the Governments encouragement of privatisation of public companies. So far the decision has not been made on who will take over Samoas first ever TV station. The sale will most likely have a tremendous impact on the future of the media in Samoa, depending on who takes it over. In the last few months the station has improved graphics and overall presentation to level matching that of New Zealand and Australia. SBC is also popular with the community for its traditional and cultural programmes which has only served to strengthen the Samoan culture.

LAU TV close down

After opening with a bang and bringing new competition and exciting television flavours to Samoa, LAU TV, the free to air television station owned by veteran Journalist Petaia Uelese Petaia closed down in October. The end of the station brought down the number of free to air stations to two, the Samoa Broadcasting Corporation and TV3.

JAWS Launches first publication

JAWS published and launched its first ever publication this year. In September, JAWS launched the booklet: "Freedom of the Press in Samoa" which is a compilation of opinions from Editors around the country about their perceptions of freedom of the Media in Samoa. Presentations by the Prime Minister, Deputy Prime Minister and High Commissioner of Australia are also included. This is also the first publication of its type, for free copies of the booklet please contact the JAWS exec at (685) 7773776 or at email jawsexec@yahoo.com.
The publication was funded by the Australian High Commission in Samoa with assistance from JAWS counterparts.

Recap: JAWS Editors Forum

A monumental event in the history of the Journalists Association of [Western] Samoa took place in May this year, and that was the Editors Forum. For the first time a gathering of Editors from Newsprint, Radio, Online and TV gathered to express their opinions of Freedom of the Press in Samoa. Funded in part by the Australian High Commission in Samoa, the event was a great success.