Palau’s President Criticizes Media for Losing Credibility

The leader of the North Pacific island nation, Palau’s President Surangel Whipps Jr, has accused the country’s media of losing its credibility and being “not ethical” in its reporting. The president’s comments come as a national newspaper, Island Times Palau, faces a defamation lawsuit from his family company.

The Lawsuit and President’s Response

Last month, Surangel and Sons, a company owned by the president’s father, sued the Island Times Palau and its editor Leilani Reklai. The company alleges that the newspaper published an article with “false and unsubstantiated allegations” about how much tax was paid by Whipps Sr’s business. The lawsuit seeks substantial compensation.

In response to the lawsuit, President Whipps Jr has described the reporting as “propaganda” and “inaccurate”. Reklai has stated that the newspaper is being intimidated and that the defamation suit is aimed at controlling how media in Palau tells a story.

Support for the Newspaper

Despite the challenges, the Palau Media Council and Island Times have received support from their community. In a statement on 27 November, they thanked supporters who contributed to the newspaper’s fundraising plea to cover legal costs.

“In these challenging times, when press freedom is increasingly under threat from legal pressures and attempts to silence critical reporting, your unwavering support sends a powerful message: our community stands united in defence of truth and transparency,” the statement said. “Because of you, Island Times can confidently face its legal challenges while continuing to shine a light on the stories that matter most.”

The President’s Views on Media

When asked by RNZ Pacific about his views on media, President Whipps Jr emphasized the importance of accountability and responsibility. “It’s about media being accountable and being responsible to the people,” he said.

However, he also acknowledged that media can sometimes take political positions and not speak the truth because of politics. He stated that Palauans want a reputable media that people can trust and that speaks the truth. “Sometimes the media has its own twist on things, and everything from misprinting, not disclosing that and an ad in the newspaper was a paid political ad, or other issues that they did.”

Criticizing Media Practices

President Whipps Jr believes that the media’s credibility has been lost due to some of their practices. “The media in Palau has lost credibility, and if anything, what we need to do is help rebuild its credibility because of some of the practices,” he said.

He emphasized the importance of ethics and honesty in journalism. “Sometimes why media loses its credibility, is because they start playing politics and trying to sway opinion, not being ethical. I think that’s all we expect. We expect media to be ethical, to be honest, to be doing its due diligence.”

Conclusion

President Whipps Jr’s comments highlight the challenges faced by Palau’s media in maintaining credibility and independence. While the president acknowledges the importance of a free press, he also emphasizes the need for accountability and responsibility. As the defamation lawsuit against Island Times Palau continues, it remains to be seen whether the country’s media can regain its lost credibility and uphold the principles of journalistic integrity.