Samoa

The Independent State of Samoa, known as Western Samoa until 1997, consists of nine islands, positioned in the South Pacific Ocean midway between Hawaii and New Zealand. The Polynesian island state was governed by Germany and New Zealand, which administered Samoa at the outset of World War II. In 1962, Samoa declared independence from New Zealand, becoming the first nation in the Pacific Islands to re-establish independence in the 20th century. Its population of 195,000 people speaks two official languages, Samoan and English, which are reflected in the country’s dual language media. Importantly, the most significant media issue in Samoa is the role and independence of the newly established Media Council, which aims to improve professional standards and ethics across all media platforms. This entry ...