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Samoa's Speaker rules on media reporting of Parliament

The Speaker of the House, has identified the Samoa Observer article “Drunken claim infuriates MP” as the centre of his repeated warnings against the media covering parliament this week.In a press statement issued this afternoon, the speaker Hon LAAULI Leuatea Polataivao Fosi Schmidt MP issued a ruling pertaining to the media and their penchant for erroneous reporting of Parliamentary debates.“This ruling was prompted by a Samoa Observer article on Wednesday 19th June 2013 entitled: “Drunken claim infuriates MP”.“In short, the article inaccurately quotes an exchange between Tautua Samoa Deputy Leader, Hon AEAU Peniamina Leavaiseeta MP and the Prime Minister, Hon TUILAEPA Fatialofa Lupesoliai Aiono Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi MP – during Tuesday’s Parliamentary Sitting.“Mr Speaker stated that presently, the media is entrusted a great freedom to attend Parliamentary Sittings and to report from within the Chamber. In return for such a privilege, the onus is on the media to report responsibly and accurately.“The ruling highlights this responsibility which must be exercised by all purveyors of information from now on.“Ideally, the media must reference their reports with official Parliament debate transcripts which may be acquired from the Legislative Assembly – before any matters discussed within Parliament goes to press.