As Samoa marks World Press Freedom Day alongside nations globally, we seize this moment to underscore the pivotal role of the media as Samoa's fourth estate.

Delving into perspectives from leaders both past and present, we present their insights on the indispensable role of a free press in Samoa's societal fabric.

Join us in commemorating press freedom and reflecting on its enduring significance in Samoa.

Prime Minister Fiame Naomi Mataáfa before the General Election in 2021 uttered that Samoa needs whistleblower protection. She said there needs to be rules to protect the freedom of information and people who blow the whistle to journalists.

“There is something in place there for the protection of whistle-blowers,” Fiame said.

“It’s a counter to this very arbitrary sort of approach. It’s all about the public interest, right?” At the time, she said for there are no clear rules around the release of information or the treatment of those who disclose it to journalists, and that this should change. Legislation that obligated public servants to disclose information when asked for it would go some ways to supporting freedom of speech and the rights of the public to know things

“There is confidentiality and then there is hiding corrupt practices. The freedom of information idea is probably where that kind of discussion needs to take place, rather than policing the media.”

Former Prime Minister, now Opposition Leader, Tuilaepa Saílele Malielegaoi has been calling on the leaders of the current government to host weekly press conferences.

It has been a year since the Prime Minister has called a weekly meeting with the press at her office. In October of 2022, Tuilaepa called on the leaders to have weekly press conferences, saying the media has a duty to keep the nation informed of different government decisions.

He said holding weekly press conferences gives the media the opportunity to question the Government of the day on various issues that arise from time to time.

Weekly press conferences also keep the country updated with developments, discussions, and decisions made by the Cabinet, according to the former prime minister.

"That is a very useful practice and it was a policy we set during our time," Tuilaepa added. "My door was always open to the media and there were times where I had three different interviews in one week just so that the country was updated with the developments and decisions made by the Cabinet.

"There were times where I came straight from the Cabinet meeting and went on air because journalists were already outside my office waiting for the Cabinet to finish.

"And that is the best time to be interviewed because the information is fresh and everything is still in your head, rather than waiting for another time to make announcements, as there is always the possibility that you might forget something.

"Having said that, we've always believed that it was important to host meeting with the press on a weekly basis so that the nation is updated with the information and developments discussed by the leaders of the government."

In 2018 when he was Prime Minister, he said: “In any Government, the need for a newspaper such as the Samoa Observer is critical, a newspaper that is not timid. They report what they see and interpret it the way they see it. We know it hasn’t been easy.””

Former Head of State, His Highness Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi also advocated for free independent media. He said: “Today Samoa is at a cross-road in her history,” Tui Atua wrote.

“It is faced with a new colonialism that I see to be more dangerous than that faced by our constitutional forefathers. The forces controlling this new colonialism is beyond the reach of the average or ordinary Samoan.

“It is camouflaged and lives insidiously from both outside and within ourselves. Those probing articles published by the Observer that have unpacked this new colonialism are critical to our education on how best to identify it, understand it and deal with it. The Observer has not shied away from publishing these kinds of articles and for this they should be supported and commended. Such articles are a must for all democratic societies.

“As a spiritual people we must pay attention to how this new colonialism attacks all that is sacred. In the neo-colonial space nothing is holy, especially that labelled ‘customary’ or ‘traditional’, nor even it seems the rule of law.

“As a spiritual people we must pay attention to how this new colonialism attacks all that is sacred. In the neo-colonial space nothing is holy, especially that labelled ‘customary’ or ‘traditional’, nor even it seems the rule of law.

“As Savea passionately reasoned in an article to the Pacific Journalism Review, even the rule of law has become subservient to the biases of those in power. When only one political party controls the making of laws, it is only a short step away from them also controlling the interpreting and enforcement of those laws.”