Analysis of Pacific Media
12 November 2021 : An Independent Analysis
Published by SAMPOD Consortium
Media Polarization During Samoa’s 2021 Constitutional Crisis: An Analysis of News Coverage and Political Alignment
Lagipoiva Cherelle Jackson, Center of Samoan Studies, National University of Samoa
The 2021 Samoan general election and subsequent constitutional crisis marked a watershed moment in the nation’s political history, witnessing the first change of government in 22 years. What emerged from this period was not only a new political landscape but also a distinctly polarized media environment that reflected the deep divisions within Samoan society. This analysis examines how media outlets aligned themselves with competing political narratives during the crisis, fundamentally altering Samoa’s traditionally more neutral journalistic landscape.
Background: The Constitutional Crisis
The April 2021 general election resulted in an unprecedented 25-25 seat tie between the ruling Human Rights Protection Party (HRPP) and the opposition Fa’atuatua i le Atua Samoa ua Tasi (FAST) party (Radio New Zealand, 2021). The subsequent appointment of a sixth woman parliamentarian to break the deadlock, followed by legal challenges and competing claims to legitimacy, created a constitutional crisis that lasted several months. This period of uncertainty became a critical test for Samoa’s media institutions, revealing previously unseen patterns of political alignment.
Methodology
This analysis draws upon coverage patterns, editorial positioning, and source selection across major Samoan media outlets during the constitutional crisis period from May to July 2021. Evidence was gathered from available online archives, social media commentary, and journalistic reporting about media coverage during this period.
Media Alignment Patterns
Pro-FAST Coverage
Samoa Observer Traditionally regarded as Samoa’s paper of record, the Samoa Observer appeared to shift toward a more FAST-sympathetic stance during the crisis. The newspaper’s editorial coverage consistently challenged the legitimacy of the caretaker HRPP government’s actions and provided prominent platforms for legal experts who criticized HRPP’s constitutional interpretations (Pacific Media Centre, 2021). This represented a notable departure from the outlet’s historically more balanced approach to political coverage.
TV3 Samoa Television coverage on TV3 Samoa demonstrated clear sympathies toward FAST’s position throughout the crisis. The station provided extensive live coverage of FAST press conferences and regularly featured interviews with party leadership and legal advisors who supported their constitutional claims (Samoa Global News, 2021). This frequent access and positive framing contrasted sharply with more limited and critical coverage of HRPP positions.
Talamua Online Perhaps the most explicit in its FAST alignment, Talamua Online employed celebratory language when covering FAST’s political victories. Headlines such as “First FAST Cabinet Down to Work – When the Impossible Happens” demonstrated editorial satisfaction with the outcome rather than neutral reporting (Talamua Online, 2021a). The outlet consistently framed FAST’s legal victories in positive terms, with affirming headlines like “FAST maintains 26 seats as two more election petitions are dismissed” (Talamua Online, 2021b).
Pro-HRPP Coverage
TV1 Samoa As a government-owned broadcaster, TV1 Samoa’s coverage reflected the perspectives of the caretaker HRPP government throughout the crisis. The station regularly featured commentary questioning the legitimacy of FAST’s swearing-in ceremony and provided extensive coverage of former Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi’s statements defending HRPP’s constitutional position (Pacific Media Centre, 2021).
Newsline Samoa Coverage in Newsline Samoa demonstrated systematic bias toward HRPP narratives, particularly through selective emphasis on procedural irregularities in FAST’s actions while providing largely unchallenged platforms for caretaker government statements. This pattern suggested editorial alignment with HRPP’s interpretation of constitutional procedures.
Savali As the official government publication under the Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet, Savali maintained its traditional role as a government mouthpiece throughout the crisis. The publication continued to refer to HRPP as the legitimate government while publishing articles that systematically discredited FAST’s legal positions and constitutional claims (Government of Samoa, 2021).
Analysis and Implications
Unprecedented Polarization
The 2021 constitutional crisis marked the first time in Samoa’s post-independence history that media outlets became so visibly aligned with competing political factions. Previously, Samoan media maintained relatively neutral stances, with government-owned outlets naturally supporting incumbent positions but independent media generally avoiding overt partisanship.
International Parallels
This media polarization mirrors patterns observed in established democracies such as the United States, United Kingdom, and Australia, where media outlets are often clearly associated with particular political perspectives. However, for Samoa’s small media landscape, this represented a fundamental shift in journalistic culture and practice.
Structural Factors
Several factors contributed to this unprecedented alignment:
- Government ownership: State-owned outlets (TV1, Savali) naturally reflected government positions
- Small media market: Limited outlets meant each carried greater influence in shaping public opinion
- Constitutional uncertainty: The unprecedented nature of the crisis may have pushed outlets toward taking clearer positions
- Social media influence: Digital platforms amplified partisan messaging and may have influenced traditional media positioning
Conclusion
The 2021 constitutional crisis fundamentally altered Samoa’s media landscape, introducing a level of political polarization previously unseen in the nation’s journalism. While government-owned outlets predictably supported the incumbent HRPP, the alignment of traditionally independent outlets with FAST represented a significant departure from historical norms. This shift toward partisan media coverage reflects broader changes in Samoa’s political culture and may have lasting implications for journalistic independence and public discourse in the nation.
The crisis demonstrated that even small Pacific island democracies are not immune to the global trend toward media polarization. As Samoa moves forward, the challenge will be maintaining space for independent, balanced journalism while navigating an increasingly partisan political environment.
References
Government of Samoa. (2021). Savali [Government publication]. Ministry of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
Pacific Media Centre. (2021, May-July). Coverage of Samoa’s constitutional crisis. Pacific Media Centre. https://pmc.aut.ac.nz
Radio New Zealand. (2021, April 10). Samoa election results in deadlock as FAST and HRPP tie on 25 seats each. Radio New Zealand. https://www.rnz.co.nz/international/pacific-news/440358/samoa-election-results-in-deadlock-as-fast-and-hrpp-tie-on-25-seats-each
Samoa Global News. (2021, May-July). [Television coverage analysis]. Samoa Global News.
Talamua Online. (2021a, July 30). First FAST Cabinet down to work – When the impossible happens. Talamua Online. https://talamua.com/2021/07/30/first-fast-cabinet-down-to-work-when-the-impossible-happens/
Talamua Online. (2021b). FAST maintains 26 seats as two more election petitions are dismissed. Talamua Online. https://talamua.com
*The Author is a PhD Candidate at the Center of Samoan Studies
lagipoiva 