Freedom of the Press - Palau (2006)

Status: Free
Legal Environment: 1
Political Influences: 5
Economic Pressures: 8
Total Score: 14

Population: n/a
GNI/capita: n/a
Life Expectancy: 70
Religious Groups: Roman Catholic (41.6 percent), Protestant (23.3 percent), other (35.1 percent)
Ethnic Groups: Paluan (70 percent), Asian (28 percent), white (2 percent)
Capital: Koror

The constitution guarantees press freedom, and the government respects this right in practice. Censorship is rare, and the press is free to report on a diversity of issues, including official corruption. Although there have been no reports of physical harm to journalists, local radio personality Alfonso Diaz has reported having three cars burned. Palau has a relatively diverse media considering its small population. The weekly Tia Belau News and the biweekly Palau Horizon both actively report on the news and offer diverse perspectives, alongside the Palauan weekly, Roureur Belau. In addition to Eco-Paradise, a government-owned radio station, there are two private radio stations and two church radio stations. The government's television station broadcasts sessions of the National Congress, and every Wednesday President Tommy Esang Remengesau Jr. meets with the press on Eco-Paradise for questions. There are no private television stations that broadcast from Palau, but citizens increasingly have access to satellite and cable television, giving them access to programming from all over the world. The internet is not a significant source of information in Palau as less than 1 percent of the population is able to gain access.