Media
(This text needs updating – 9 September 2012)
St Helena’s newest newspaper, The Sentinel, was launched – amid controversy – by the state-funded St Helena Broadcasting (Guarantee) Corporation (SHBC) on 29 March 2012. The corporation aims to be able to operate without a government grant “within a short time”.
The island’s existing private-sector newspaper, the St Helena Independent, announced that its issue of 30 March 2012 would be its last. Owner Mike Olsson blamed the government’s decision to switch its advertising to the new title. The previous government-funded newspaper, the St Helena Herald, had not been allowed to compete for advertising with the private sector.
The St Helena Independent was relaunched on 27 April 2012. St Helena Online has entered an informal arrangement to supply material to the paper.
Independent owner Mike Olsson has since applied to set up new radio stations to compete with those planned by the SHBC (last updated August 2012).
Visit the SHBC website here.
Visit Saint FM and The St Helena Independent here.
Click here to see documents relating to the island media.
Media pundits all round the world have been debating the £25 million signing of footballer Robin van Persie – but when the BBC wanted an expert view, it turned to Nick Stevens in St Helena. And at the end of … Continue reading →
A battle for the airwaves has led St Helena Government to lay down temporary rules on how radio licences should be granted. It says it would be unfair to make applicants wait for a fully-researched policy to be in place. … Continue reading →
News bulletins from St Helena’s newest media organisation are now going out on the airwaves – before it has even launched its first radio station. The St Helena Broadcasting Corporation has been publishing audio bulletins on its website since April, but now … Continue reading →
Proper scrutiny is vital to good government, says the UK’s 2012 White Paper on the country’s Overseas Territories. “This important work helps strengthen the people’s trust in government,” it says, “and encourages greater public participation in decision making.” It also … Continue reading →
A move by Mike Olsson to launch new radio stations on St Helena, alongside Saint FM, has caused concern for councillors. A request from St Helena Media Productions for more slots on the airwaves was put on hold at the … Continue reading →
The St Helena Independent’s relaunch issue is now live on the internet, a month after it “closed down” in the face of competition from the government-funded Sentinel newspaper. Read it here. St Helena Online will supply news and features for … Continue reading →
The re-launch of the St Helena Independent – in competition with a government-funded rival – has prompted island blogger John Turner to oppose media subsidies. But in the UK, one Conservative MP has called for tax breaks and financial assistance … Continue reading →
A rescue package has been put together to bring back the St Helena Independent – just under a month after its “final” edition was published. The revived Indy will appear – in print and on the internet – on Friday, 27 April, 2012. … Continue reading →
Hazel Wilmot has been formally rebuked for publicly demanding the resignations of the leaders of the island’s chamber of commerce, over the closure of the St Helena Independent. A statement from the chamber – sent to this website by Ms Wilmot – … Continue reading →
Allegations that St Helena Government brought about the closure of the island’s only privately-run newspaper have been strongly refuted. In a second statement on the affair, the government says its plans to help set up a state-funded rival “did not include … Continue reading →
The following statement was issued by Mike Olsson, head of Saint FM and the former St Helena Independent, on 3 April 2012. Saint FM/St Helena Independent would like to respond to selected “truth” presented to the public by St Helena … Continue reading →
The origins of the new media organisation for St Helena were detailed in a book on local news media. It was published in the UK in March 2012 – in the same week as the launch of The Sentinel and the publication … Continue reading →
St Helena Government has issued the following statement to explain its support for the publishers of The Sentinel, St Helena’s new newspaper – which has been blamed for the closure of the St Helena Independent. Since St Helena Media Productions … Continue reading →
Saint FM has disclosed details of its contract to provide information and media services to St Helena Government (SHG), in response to a government statement on its decision to switch its advertising to the state-funded St Helena Broadcasting (Guarantee) Corporation. … Continue reading →
St Helena’s new broadcasting corporation will able to blossom after winning approval to set up its studios in the Castle Gardens in Jamestown – despite objections. The plan was approved by executive councillors on the very eve of the launch … Continue reading →
The new St Helena Sentinel and its sister radio stations will be an important part of island life during a period of massive upheaval, according to the St Helena Government (SHG). The island’s Independent newspaper has announced it will close … Continue reading →
The announcement that the St Helena Independent is to close on Friday, citing government-funded competition – has prompted strong reactions. Read comments here. So far, however – because of personal pressures – this website has not carried any response from the organisation behind … Continue reading →
The following anonymous article has been sent to this website via Vince Thompson, columnist on the St Helena Independent. A response from the new St Helena Sentinel will be welcomed. The Empire Strikes Back? The island’s only private-sector newspaper, The Independent, … Continue reading →
The St Helena Independent is due to close on Friday, 30 March 2012 – on the day the government-subsidised St Helena Sentinel is launched. The government has told this website the new media organisation – which will eventually include three … Continue reading →
The final issue of the St Helena Herald is to be published this Friday (9 March 2012), even though island councillors have yet to change the law to allow it to happen. The state-funded paper is to be replaced by … Continue reading →
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