19 Mar 2019

Samoa journos unhappy over new camera rules at parliament

8:18 pm on 19 March 2019

Samoa's national media organisation has spoken out against new rules banning outside cameras from recording parliament.

Samoa parliament offices.

Samoa parliament offices. Photo: RNZ / Johnny Blades

The Legislative Office informed local media of the new protocols before parliament resumed today.

It said the media could have access to video and photos of the sittings taken by designated staff.

But the Journalists Association of Samoa has warned against the move, describing it as a form of censorship.

Journalists have also expressed disappointment that the new parliament house has no media gallery as originally planned.

The association has urged the speaker, Leaupepe Toleafoa Faafisi, to reconsider the new protocols.