Why traditional journalism remains relevant in the Pacific in the digital age

Giff Johnson

Microwaves

By Jack Niedenthal

Majuro—Giff Johnson has lived in the Marshall Islands since the mid-1980s. He edits the weekly Marshall Islands Journal newspaper, published in Majuro, and is a regular contributor to several regional news media. He is a co-founder of Pacific Media Institute, a non-profit media freedom advocacy organization that focuses on the Micronesian sub-region. He is the author of “Collision Course at Kwajalein: Marshall Islanders in the Shadow of the Bomb” (1984), “Nuclear Past, Unclear Future” (2009), “Don’t Ever Whisper” (2013), “Idyllic No More” (2015) and “Our Oceans Promise: The Marshall Islands Fishing Story” (2021).

Pacific Island Times: As we observe Media Freedom Day, how would you assess the current state of media freedom in the Marshall Islands and the wider Micronesian subregion? Are there particular challenges or successes that stand out to you?

Giff Johnson: Media freedom in both Palau and the Marshall Islands is in a good place. There are independent media platforms—particularly in print, radio and streaming—and together, they contribute to a strong media environment in both countries.

In the Federated States of Micronesia, however, there’s a smaller independent media footprint. The only newspaper, the Kaselehlie Press, is based in Pohnpei and tends to focus mostly on that state. The other three states in the FSM haven’t had active independent media operations in recent years. The same situation applies to Nauru and Kiribati, though Kiribati has seen some attempts to establish independent media.

One notable strength among the three North Pacific countries in free association with the United States—FSM, Palau and the Marshall Islands—is their long exposure to American democratic values. Over 80 years, they’ve come to value principles like freedom of speech and freedom of the press.

Legacy media, such as The Marshall Islands Journal and Tia Belau, are among the longest-running newspapers in the region, and their continued publication reflects the strength of constitutional protections for press freedom.

Regarding the challenges we face, in the Marshall Islands, we’ve seen efforts over the past six years or so where small groups of parliament members have tried to introduce legislation—such as libel laws—that could have a chilling effect on the media by encouraging frivolous lawsuits. Fortunately, these proposals have failed to gain traction. That shows that media freedom is still broadly respected by the public and in the political culture.

PIT: Given your long-standing role in journalism, how has the media landscape evolved in Micronesia in terms of independence, access, and influence?

GJ: The biggest development over the past few decades has been the rise of social media. Around 15 years ago, a Marshallese individual in the U.S. launched yokwe.net, the first online Marshallese political chat space. This was before Facebook had really taken hold. Later, platforms like Kewan Jela on Facebook became central to political discourse in the Marshall Islands. Similar platforms exist in Palau and the FSM.

Social media has highlighted the value of traditional journalism. While posts on social media may lack verification, traditional media still operates with standards—fact-checking, sourcing and accountability. Our stories might cover the same issues as social media, but with depth and accuracy.

Additionally, social media helps us track emerging issues. When something gains traction online, we may investigate and develop a story from it. But at the same time, the rise of digital media and the decline of advertising revenue have made sustainability difficult for traditional media—just as we have seen globally.

Giff Johnson with Tia Belau editor Moses Uludong

PIT: How do issues of misinformation and political pressure manifest in Micronesia, and how are local media responding?

GJ: People in larger countries are becoming more aware of how social media can be misused—through bots, disinformation and false narratives. In the islands, there’s less awareness about the risks associated with misinformation. Unlike in places like the U.S. or Australia, where disinformation is a prominent issue with dedicated fact-checking organizations, the islands don’t yet have that kind of infrastructure.

At The Marshall Islands Journal, we try to publish stories that correct misinformation, especially when something egregious appears on social media.

PIT: To what extent does geographic isolation influence the role and effectiveness of local media?

GJ: Isolation plays a big role. Because fewer people are online compared to more connected regions, traditional newspapers like The Journal, Tia Belau and the Island Times (Palau) remain financially viable. We're not in the same market where digital platforms have decimated local advertising.

Another key factor is original content. In the U.S., a major news story is instantly available across hundreds of platforms. But here, if something important happens, The Marshall Islands Journal is often the only outlet providing researched, original coverage. That keeps us relevant and meaningful.

We’re also a platform for community voices—publishing reader submissions and opinion pieces that often enter the political discourse.

PIT: As a board member of the Pacific Media Institute, what role do you believe regional media organizations can play in strengthening journalistic integrity, collaboration, and resilience in small island states?

GJ: Regional media organizations are crucial because they do things that commercial media can’t. Groups like the Pacific Media Institute are designed to support independent journalism, encourage young people to enter the field, and promote democratic values.

They provide training, professional development, and support for both journalists and public information officers.

The goal is to strengthen the media ecosystem—helping existing outlets, inspiring new ones, and building capacity across the region to ensure press freedom continues.

PIT: What are the most pressing threats to media freedom in Micronesia, and how can they be addressed?

GJ: The biggest challenge is the highly personalized nature of media disputes. Often, when a politician feels attacked on social media—fairly or not—they want to push back by proposing restrictive legislation. But many of these proposals misunderstand how media works. Ironically, they end up affecting traditional media, not social platforms.

With newspapers, there’s a process: people know they can respond, publish letters, and have a fair chance to present their side. That back-and-forth doesn’t exist in the same way online, which adds to the frustration. Thankfully, the constitutions in Palau and the Marshall Islands strongly protect press freedom, and harmful proposals have not become law.

PIT: How can the media in Micronesia balance traditional forms of communication and storytelling with the demands of modern journalism and digital platforms, especially among younger audiences?

GJ:  Kids are increasingly on digital devices, and we’ve seen a rise in digital subscriptions to The Journal, especially among local Marshallese readers. That’s a big change. Originally, our digital edition served mainly an overseas audience, but that’s shifted.

We need to keep up. At The Journal, and in conversations with colleagues in Palau and elsewhere, we know we need to grow our digital capacity—creating content for platforms like TikTok, Facebook Reels, and others to draw readers in.

The Pacific Media Institute is also focused on this—offering training on how to adapt print stories into digital formats and reach new audiences without losing journalistic quality.

PIT: Governments in the region have often failed to use media effectively. What’s behind this, and what can be done?

GJ:  One thing we’ve realized at the Pacific Media Institute, through our workshops since 2022, is that public information officers across the region have almost no access to professional development. Journalists have training opportunities, but PIOs don’t get invited to participate.

We’ve started addressing this gap by involving PIOs in our workshops—and what we’ve found is that not a single government office we’ve worked with has a strategic communications plan. That means communication is totally ad hoc: a press release goes out without much thought about the audience or platform.

Major offices—like the President’s Office, Foreign Affairs, Health, or Education—would benefit greatly from having clear communication strategies.

PIT: Looking ahead, what are your hopes and recommendations for the future of media freedom in Micronesia?

GJ:  I believe two essential pillars of any democratic country are an independent judiciary and independent media. The judiciary must be trusted by the public and the government to deliver fair, quality decisions. And the media must be free to report news and share opinions openly.

If those two systems function well, a country is more likely to uphold democratic principles.

Jack Niedenthal is the former secretary of Health Services for the Marshall Islands, where he has lived and worked for 43 years. He is the author of “For the Good of Mankind: An Oral History of the People of Bikini” and president of Microwave Films, which has produced six award-winning feature films in the Marshallese language. Send feedback to jackniedenthal@gmail.com

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