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Freedom of the Press - Tuvalu (2007)

Status: Free
Legal Environment: 3 (of 30)
Political Environment: 11 (of 40)
Economic Environment: 12 (of 30)
Total Score: 26 (of 100)
(Lower scores = freer)

Article 24 of the constitution safeguards freedom of expression, though government regulations and a monopoly over the small media market sometimes limit this right in practice. The newly elected Prime Minister, Apisai Ielemia, vowed in August to make media freedom a top priority, but only minor improvements were reported by year's end. However, there were no recorded incidents of attacks on or harassment of journalists in 2006. The Tuvalu Media Corporation (TMC) controls the country's only newspaper, Tuvalu Echoes, and radio station, Radio Tuvalu; the TMC reportedly censors content considered to be in opposition to the government and restricted coverage of political and human rights issues in 2006. The TMC receives most of its funding from the state and is chaired by the secretary to the government. Tuvalu ISP is the sole internet provider for the 13.2 percent of the population with the means to access this new medium. However, only 16 percent of those connected can access the internet at any one time owing to a poor telecommunications infrastructure.

Topics: Freedom of information, Freedom of expression,