Nauru Political Orientation
Government
Government Type: Parliamentary Republic
Leader: President Russ Joseph Kun
Political Party: Independent (no formal parties)
Political Position: Center-Right
Press Freedom
MBFC’s Country Freedom Rating: 77.00 – Mostly Free
Nauru is a former British colony that gained its independence in 1968. It does not have a ranking in the World Press Freedom Index by Reporters Without Borders. Nauruans typically have political rights and civil liberties, but the government has targeted opponents like the Nauru 19 for their involvement in a protest. Furthermore, the country has faced criticism for imposing high visa fees for journalists, resulting in limited international coverage.
Media Ownership and Government Analysis
Here is a brief background on Nauru.
Once rich in phosphate deposits, Nauru suffered from environmental damage and economic decline due to the over-extraction by Australia, New Zealand, and the United Kingdom.
Nauru sought justice through the courts for exploiting its resources, and the BBC reports that in 1993, Nauru received a $73m out-of-court settlement from Australia while New Zealand and the UK paid a one-time settlement of $8.2m each. Currently, Nauru’s economy relies on fishing licenses, foreign aid, and an Australian-funded offshore processing center for asylum seekers which is a significant source of income and employment on the island. However, Nauru has been accused of human rights abuses in the refugee camp that it operates for Australia.
Regarding media, Nauru’s media environment is limited, dominated by state-owned TV station Nauru Television (NTV) and Radio Nauru run by the government-owned Nauru Broadcasting Service. Local media options, such as the Nauru Bulletin and the state-owned Nauru Broadcasting Service, are limited and primarily government-controlled. Therefore, the government controls the flow of information, such as restricting access to foreign journalists by charging a non-refundable visa application fee of AUD 8,000 (approximately $5,372.12 as of April 2023) which limits international coverage. This high fee has been criticized by press freedom advocates such as RSF.
Generally, the media landscape in Nauru lacks diversity and is vulnerable to government influence, leading to potential censorship.
Last Updated on May 13, 2023 by Media Bias Fact Check
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