Reading Tahitian newspapers: from the print press to news websites

Tahiti's newspapers are now read mostly online, in French and sometimes in Tahitian: Tahiti Infos for written news, the TNTV, Polynésie la 1ère and Radio1 websites for rolling coverage, supplemented by Outremers360 and the New Caledonian press.

From the Messager de Tahiti to the first private titles

The print press was born in Papeete in the 19th century, under the French protectorate, with the Messager de Tahiti, the administration's official organ. Private sheets, often linked to merchants and local parties, later appeared in the small Polynesian capital.

The end of the printed dailies

For decades, La Dépêche de Tahiti and Les Nouvelles de Tahiti shared readers in Papeete and the islands. Both dailies have ceased publication, hit by printing costs and digital competition, leaving the fenua without a major print daily.

Tahiti Infos, the fenua's online newspaper

Tahiti Infos has become the main written news outlet in French Polynesia, covering territorial assembly politics, Papeete crime stories, the pearl and tourism economy, sport and culture. Its articles, updated throughout the day, serve as a reference for other newsrooms.

When radio and television stations write the news

With no printed daily, the websites of Radio1, TNTV and Polynésie la 1ère publish written articles every day, not just videos. Their broadcast output is described on our page about Tahiti radio stations live.

In which language is the Tahitian press written?

French largely dominates the written press, but reo tahiti appears in headlines, quotations and some cultural sections. TNTV and Polynésie la 1ère also offer news bulletins in Tahitian, while the Marquesan and Paumotu languages remain rare in print.

What to read about the Marquesas, Tuamotu or Austral Islands?

Newsrooms are concentrated in Papeete, and news from the outlying archipelagos arrives through correspondents or occasional reports. The municipalities of Nuku Hiva, Rangiroa and Tubuai also publish practical information on their official pages and social media accounts.

The Journal officiel, an essential source

The Journal officiel de la Polynésie française publishes the territory's laws, Council of Ministers orders and legal notices. Lawyers, businesses and journalists consult it to verify a measure announced by the government of French Polynesia before reporting it.

Wire stories from Paris and Nouméa

With no local news agency, Tahitian newsrooms rely on AFP dispatches for national and international news. Les Nouvelles Calédoniennes also runs a section on French Polynesia, presented alongside the New Caledonian press.

Outremers360 and the national media

Outremers360 and the Outre-mer la 1ère portal follow Tahiti from Paris, notably debates on the autonomy statute, nuclear testing and the high cost of living. Our portal of the French overseas press presents the equivalent titles in other territories.

Economy, black pearls and tourism in the news

Pearl farming in the Tuamotu, tourist numbers on Bora Bora and Moorea, the price of flights to Los Angeles or Paris, and the territory's public finances take up much space in Tahitian newspapers and their business sections.

Weeklies, magazines and free publications

Alongside the daily news sites, monthly magazines, tourist publications and free papers distributed in Papeete cover culture, surfing and va'a, the Polynesian outrigger canoe. They may appear irregularly, so it is worth checking that a title is still being published.

Reading and fact-checking from abroad

For a reader in mainland France or elsewhere, comparing Tahiti Infos, TNTV and Polynésie la 1ère on the same story remains the best habit. Archipelago sections, statements from the presidency and the High Commission round out the picture.

Following Tahitian newspapers from a distance

1. Bookmark Tahiti Infos or add it to your news app to read written articles about French Polynesia every day.
2. Supplement it with the TNTV or Polynésie la 1ère websites, which publish texts and videos from their TV news.
3. Consult the Journal officiel de la Polynésie française to verify a territorial law or order announced in the press.
4. Follow the Pacific section of Outremers360 or Outre-mer la 1ère for the Paris view of Tahitian issues.
5. Allow for the time difference: Tahiti is on UTC minus 10 hours, eleven or twelve hours behind Paris.
6. Check the date of old articles from La Dépêche or Les Nouvelles de Tahiti found online, since these titles no longer appear.

Reading the Tahitian press: access and costs

Key facts for reading Polynesian newspapers

• Languages: French, with reo tahiti in some sections
• Main online written outlet: Tahiti Infos
• Public broadcaster: Polynésie la 1ère; territorial channel: TNTV
• No local news agency: AFP dispatches
• Time zone: UTC minus 10 hours
• Currency: CFP franc, code XPF

Pitfalls when reading Tahitian newspapers

• Taking an archived article from La Dépêche de Tahiti for current news, when this daily no longer appears.
• Confusing a French Polynesia government press release published as is with an article checked by an independent newsroom.
• Trusting a Facebook page posing as a local newspaper, with no identifiable newsroom or legal notice, that spreads rumours and false alerts.
• Forgetting the time difference and reading a Tahitian publication date as the following day in Europe, which distorts the chronology.
• Confusing French Polynesia with New Caledonia or Wallis and Futuna in national wire stories about the Pacific.

Questions about Tahiti's newspapers