A clash has erupted between Minister of Agriculture and Fisheries, La’auli Leuatea Schmidt, and the Samoa Observer newspaper, highlighting differing viewpoints on recent events.
Minister La’auli, during the Soalepule program, expressed strong dissatisfaction with the Samoa Observer’s reporting on concerns raised by church members about the content aired on the C.C.C.S. TV station. Church members had urged content monitoring due to concerns over potential political influence.
In response, the Samoa Observer published an editorial titled “Minister La’auli, Soalepule host misguided.” The editorial presents a well-articulated argument, highlighting concerns over the handling of the issue by the program host, Paiali’i Tapuala Oloapu. It questions the depth of research conducted, suggesting that if Paiali’i had thoroughly read the Samoa Observer’s report, he would have come across direct references to concerns raised by church members from specific districts.
Furthermore, the editorial disputes Minister La’auli’s claim that the newspaper published unbalanced stories and failed to seek his comments. It asserts that the Samoa Observer has consistently endeavored to obtain comments from Cabinet Ministers, including La’auli, although there have been instances where comments were refused or bureaucratic obstacles were encountered.
In the eyes of the Samoa Observer, it is clear that they believe their reporting is accurate and in line with their professional standards. They argue that the program host, Paiali’i Tapuala Oloapu, may have mishandled the issue by not thoroughly researching the matter. The editorial defends the newspaper’s commitment to seeking comments from Minister La’auli and challenges his claim of unbalanced reporting. From their perspective, the Samoa Observer stands by their reporting and maintains that they have followed journalistic principles in covering the story.