Tonga’s commitment to press freedom has slipped in the latest global rankings, falling one spot to 46th in the 2024 Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Press Freedom Index.
The constitutional monarchy, which saw significant media reforms after its first democratic elections in 2010, is now grappling with political interference, restrictive laws, and economic instability that threaten independent journalism.
With its scattered Pacific islands, Tonga lacks a robust print media sector, leaving state-owned Tonga Broadcasting Commission (TBC)—operating Television Tonga and Radio Tonga—as the dominant broadcaster.
RSF said that online outlets like Matangi Tonga and New Zealand-based Kaniva Tonga provide alternative voices, but journalists face increasing obstacles.
Press freedom has become entangled with Tonga’s political shifts. After the 2017 re-election of the late Prime Minister ‘Akilisi Pōhiva’s party, tensions rose with journalists, particularly at TBC, where editors were sidelined under government pressure.
Hopes for reform under Prime Minister Siaosi Sovaleni, elected in 2021, have dimmed due to King Tupou VI’s growing influence over government affairs, raising fears of further media restrictions.
Though Tonga’s constitution guarantees press freedom, enforcement remains inconsistent. Laws have grown harsher since 2010, including a 2015 internet regulation allowing site blocking without judicial oversight and a vague 2020 cybercrime law imposing three-year prison terms for “cyberharassment.”
Recently, the government quietly imposed eight restrictive media regulations, penalising the spread of “sensitive” information and shielding politicians from scrutiny.
Media outlets struggle in Tonga’s fragile economy, where self-censorship is common to avoid losing advertisers, including the government. The situation worsened after the 2022 Hunga Tonga-Hunga Ha’apai volcanic eruption and tsunami, which devastated infrastructure amid the economic fallout of COVID-19.
While Tonga has advanced in gender representation in media, critical issues like police brutality, the death penalty, and child marriage remain largely off-limits for journalists. Though reporters face no physical danger, self-censorship persists in the close-knit society.
The Media Association of Tonga continues advocating for journalists’ rights, but with legal, political, and economic pressures mounting, the kingdom’s press freedom outlook remains uncertain.
Meanwhile, neighbouring Pacific nations show mixed trends, with Fiji rising while Samoa suffers a dramatic fall.
Pacific Press Freedom: Gains and Losses
Among island nations, Fiji (40th, up four places) performed best, overtaking Samoa (44th, plummeting 22 places) from its traditional lead. New Zealand (16th, up three places) also improved, reinforcing its position as a regional leader in media freedom. While most Pacific countries fared well, the Asia-Pacific region overall had a troubling year, with authoritarian regimes continuing to suppress independent journalism.
At the bottom of the index, North Korea (179th) remains the world’s worst environment for press freedom, where media serve solely as propaganda tools for the totalitarian regime. China (178th) and Vietnam (173rd) also maintain tight control, with nearly all outlets either state-owned or run by Communist Party-aligned groups. The only independent reporting comes from freelance journalists working underground, who face constant threats and financial instability.
