Freedom of the Press - Marshall Islands (2005)

Status: Free
Legal Environment: 1
Political Influences: 6
Economic Pressures: 6
Total Score: 13

Population: n/a
GNI/capita: n/a
Life Expectancy: 69
Religious Groups: Christian [mostly Protestant]
Ethnic Groups: Micronesian
Capital: Majuro

The constitution protects freedom of the press, and the government respects this right in practice. Private media express a wide variety of views and are largely independent from the government. The weekly Marshall Islands Journal (MIJ) is the largest private newspaper and publishes articles on issues of controversy, in both English and Marshallese, without restriction. English-language outlets dominate the media landscape, and the MIJ management has noted a shortage of qualified Marshallese-speaking journalists, which may limit access for some Marshallese. There are both government and private broadcast media, and U.S. and other foreign television is available via cable. The local nongovernmental organization Women United Together complained of lack of access to state-run media, stating that the government censors coverage of sensitive women's issues. The Internet is growing in popularity, and many Marshallese participate in lively critical debates online.