Transcript
Tuilaepa shut down the briefings, blaming journalists for giving Samoa a bad name by reporting stories about rape and incest.
He said the negative reports gave the impression that Samoa is not a place people would like to visit.
But the editor of the Samoa Observer newspaper, Mata'afa Keni Lesa, says the end of the briefings will inhibit the media's ability to do their job.
"The police briefing is a critical part of that because as the media of course we need credible sources and we would like to think that the police is a very credible source of information, even if it is just a brief of what is happening and then the media can go and do their own investigations."
However our correspondent in Apia, Autagavaia Tipi Autagavaia, says he has been told by the police that journalists will still have ready access.
"They are still opening the door for the media to send in questions on whatever matter they have, and the police are always open the door to respond and give answers to whatever are raised by the media."
Autagavaia also says the end of the briefings will not necessarily mean an end to stories on sexual crime in Samoa.
"If there are incest cases, the media found out happening in the community, well it is a duty for the media to call the police whether they are investigating this incest or rape or indecent assault case.
The head of the Journalists Association of Samoa says the end of weekly police press briefings could be a good thing.
Apulu Lance Polu says the police are trying to tidy up their dissemination of information and are looking at creating an official media policy.
"I think it will be good for all. Good for the media, good for the police and good for the public as well. The police should establish a firm media policy and then perhaps liaise with the media itself, getting some legal advice so that these things would not criss-cross over the legal implications when the cases actually go before the court.
Prime minister Tuilaepa disliked the media's initial response to his decision and issued a further statement to say the media were lazy and wanted to be spoon-fed.
Mata'afa Keni Lesa says the comments were unfair.
"We have processes here. Our reporters are at court. We get the stories from the court. We operate just like any other respectful media organisation would. The thing with police press conferences, here at the Observer we get the information and then we go out and do our own investigation. We don't just take the police press conference and run it like some of our colleagues do. So to say that all the reporters in Samoa are lazy, I find it absolutely ridiculous."
Apulu Lance Polu says Tuilaepa's comments were probably not directed at all media.
