Freedom of the Press - Nauru (2007)

Status: Free
Legal Environment: 4 (of 30)
Political Environment: 11 (of 40)
Economic Environment: 13 (of 30)
Total Score: 28 (of 100)
(Lower scores = freer)

Freedom of expression is safeguarded in Article 12 of the constitution, though there are limitations for libel and national security. There are no protections for freedom of information under the law, and in the past the government has proven uncooperative in granting access to documents. The 2004 freedom of information bill was rejected, and no comparable bills have been presented since. There were no attacks on the press in 2006. Environmental challenges, a poor communications infrastructure, and a failing economy have limited the country's media scene. Nauru publishes no daily papers, and there are no private newspaper companies, though the government releases the weekly Nauru Bulletin, the fortnightly Central Star News, and the Nauru Chronicle. A newsletter, the People's Voice, is published by the opposition party. The state runs one radio and one television station that both carry material from foreign media, though no private broadcasting exists. The internet is unrestricted by the government, although access remains limited – available to less than 3 percent of the population owing to a poor telecommunications infrastructure.