Samoa Prime Minister Laaulialemalietoa Leuatea Schmidt has confirmed that the government will stop all advertising in private media.
He said he is worried about leaked government information, suggesting it is a betrayal of the government.
At a press conference this week, he said government employees have strained their relationship with officials and the government by leaking information.
He was responding to questions about a proposed cabinet directive saying that all public notices, tenders, announcements, vacancies, contract positions, advertisements, and other government-related notices will only be published and broadcast on government media platforms.
This effectively puts a blanket ban on all paid government public notices and advertising on the private media—a major source of income for them.
The directive follows the Prime Minister’s ban on the Samoa Observer in November.
The PM noted that breaking news on government matters is often reported from outside official channels.
“Anything to do with the government, the government will release and create the breaking news; anything to do with the country, it is up to the media to pursue,” he added.
Photo: Government of Samoa
