Freedom of the Press - Nauru (2006)

Status: Free
Legal Environment: 4
Political Influences: 13
Economic Pressures: 13
Total Score: 30

Population: n/a
GNI/capita: n/a
Life Expectancy: 61
Religious Groups: Christian (two-thirds Protestant, one-third Roman Catholic)
Ethnic Groups: Nauruan (58 percent), other Pacific Islander (26 percent), Chinese (8 percent), European (8 percent)
Capital: Yaren

Freedom of the press is guaranteed in the constitution and is generally respected by the government. There is no freedom of information legislation, however, and the authorities were not cooperative in providing public access to government information. In 2005, the government continued to deny entry visas to foreign journalists and representatives of foreign nongovernmental organizations wishing to gain access to the island's Australian-run refugee processing and detention center. Environmental challenges, a poor communications infrastructure, and a failing economy have limited the country's media scene. There are no daily news publications or privately owned newspapers. The government publishes the weekly Nauru Bulletin, the fortnightly Central Star News, and the Nauru Chronicle, while the opposition publishes a newsletter, the People's Voice. The government operates the only television and radio stations, which carry broadcasts from Radio Australia, the BBC, and New Zealand television. Internet access remains limited owing to incomplete satellite service but is unrestricted by the government.