As the world marks freedom of the press today, a report has revealed Tonga dropped from 45th to 46th place in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index, highlighting growing concerns over economic pressures and self-censorship in the nation’s media landscape.
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) attributes the decline to economic fragility, which has become a leading threat to press freedom globally. In Tonga, media outlets face financial instability, leading some journalists to self-censor to avoid jeopardising advertising revenue, particularly from government sources.
The RSF report notes that Tonga’s media environment is challenged by a volatile economy and limited resources. The state-owned Tonga Broadcasting Commission (TBC) dominates the media landscape, operating Television Tonga and Radio Tonga. Online platforms like Matangi Tonga and New Zealand-based Kaniva Tonga also play significant roles.
While the constitution guarantees press freedom, enforcement has been inconsistent. Legislative measures, such as the 2020 electronic crimes law, impose penalties for cyberharassment, a term not clearly defined, raising concerns about potential misuse against journalists.
RSF’s methodology assesses countries based on political context, legal framework, economic context, sociocultural context, and safety. Tonga scored notably high in the safety indicator, ranking 11th globally, indicating a relatively secure environment for journalists.
Despite these challenges, Tonga remains classified as “Free” by Freedom House, with a global freedom score of 80 out of 100 in 2025.
The broader Asia-Pacific region presents a mixed picture. Fiji has shown significant improvement, climbing to 40th place, reflecting eased media restrictions following political changes . Conversely, Samoa has experienced a notable decline, dropping 22 places to 44th, raising concerns about increasing pressures on journalistic freedom.
Globally, RSF highlights economic instability as a primary threat to press freedom. The dominance of major digital platforms has eroded traditional media revenues, undermining journalistic independence.
While Tonga’s press freedom remains relatively stable, ongoing economic challenges and restrictive laws highlight the need for reforms to ensure a more robust and independent media environment.
