Editorial: Tonga’s Media Needs More Than Just Protection—It Needs a Rebuild
The recently released State of the Media: Tonga report provides a detailed snapshot of a struggling industry—but it stops short of addressing the deeper issues undermining Tonga’s media today.
Freedom Exists on Paper, Not in Practice
The report rightly highlights that Tonga’s media freedom is limited by laws like the Electronic Communications Abuse Offences Act 2020 and the “unlawful publication of sensitive information” provision under the Communications Infringement Notice Regime. These vague and punitive laws can (and do) suppress free expression and discourage critical reporting.
But legislation alone doesn’t explain the weakening of Tonga’s press. Legal pressure is only one part of the story. The lack of journalistic courage and initiative is another.
Tonga’s Journalism Is Lacking Drive and Depth
Tonga is full of stories that demand exposure—misuse of public funds, environmental threats, government accountability, and more. Yet, how many of these are investigated thoroughly?
Far too often, our media waits for press releases or viral social media posts before reacting. The proactive spirit of journalism is missing. What should be an independent watchdog has too often become a passive echo chamber.
Where Are the Reformers?
The report is built on feedback from Pacific media practitioners. But a serious question must be asked: how many of these so-called “experts” have truly practiced journalism at a high standard? How many have taken real risks or exposed truths in the public interest?
If the voices shaping media reform are drawn from a pool of undertrained or risk-averse practitioners, how can we expect bold reform?
Training Alone Won’t Save Us
Calls for workshops, mobile journalism kits, and ethics guidelines are fine—but they’re not enough.
Tonga doesn’t just need trained journalists. We need brave journalists. Skilled storytellers. Investigators. Truth-seekers. And we need institutional reforms that create room for them to operate independently—without fear of reprisal or financial ruin.
A Call to Action for Media and Donors
If development partners like DFAT and ABC International Development truly want to strengthen Tongan media, they must invest in independence and accountability, not just capacity building.
Support should be directed toward:
- Funding independent investigative units;
- Protecting journalists from political pressure;
- Building youth pathways into journalism with real editorial mentoring;
- Reforming TBC to operate free from government interference.
Tonga Deserves a Better Media
We are at a crossroads. We can let Tonga’s media continue to fade into irrelevance—relying on social media noise and clickbait. Or we can demand a higher standard and create a press corps worthy of Tonga’s democracy and future.
The Kingdom deserves fearless, informed, and independent journalism. Let’s rebuild the sector from the ground up—before it’s too late.
