Vanuascope

Vanuatu

Vanuascope closes

Vanuatu’s only privately owned newspaper, Vanuascope, closed down in late January 11 month’s after it began in March last year. Editor Patrick Decloitre said in his front page editorial in the 48th and last issue that the closure was due to financial reasons.

He said Vanuascope was a “quality paper” and its production cost was high but its advertising revenue was not enough to support it. Decloitre said the market in Port Vila wasn’t enough to support the number of newspapers and the government owned commercial radio. He denied reports that the closure was due to government pressure.