Tipi Autagavaia is one of two reporters at the privately owned Samoa Radio Polynesia.   Both pair were told by the stations owner, Maposua Keil, to stop attending SDUP’s news conferences.   He also banned further coverage of corruption stories by the SDUP leader against the government.

The decision follows allegations of corruption against the government raised in a news conference.

Autagavaia says he was shocked by the decision, but he says he still has a job to do.

“It is the role of the media not to take sides but to be impartial and take both sides of the political arena, so I will still continue to attend press conferences.”

He says The station manager told them they should report and praise the work the government is doing.