9 Jul 2015

Forbes says Tongan PM feature was advertorial

1:03 pm on 9 July 2015

Forbes magazine says its journalists did not write an advertorial piece on Tonga, rather the work was done by an independent company that onsells to Forbes.

Akilisi Pohiva

Akilisi Pohiva Photo: AAP (file)

Tonga's Prime Minister Akilisi Pohiva had earlier said he had been interviewed by Forbes journalists and this is part of a two page advertorial feature in the June edition of the magazine.

It cost the Tonga Governrment US$150,000 dollars which Mr Pohiva says he believes is money well spent promoting the country to wealthy investors and tourists.

The magazine says Tonga had entered into a contract with a company called Impact Media, which sell special sections into Forbes magazine.

It says Impact prepared the material and supplied the writers for what was a promotional paid economic development special advertising section, not staffers from Forbes.

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