Media in São Tomé and Príncipe

São Tomé and Príncipe has a fragmented media system. Radio, television and online news are established, while newspapers were reported as no longer publishing in the EU Election Observation Mission's 2022 assessment. STP-Press is the country's only news agency and is state-owned. Online news sources include Tela Non, Rádio Somos Todos Primos, Jornal Transparência and Jornal Tropical, with access generally free apart from internet, device and data costs. Broadcasting remains central. TVS is the main television channel, and RNSTP provides national radio coverage with news, education, entertainment, listener interaction and web or podcast access. RPP serves Príncipe under the regional government. Private religious stations, community radios and an online general-interest radio add local alternatives. Radio is particularly useful during crises and where electricity, mobile data or internet connections are unreliable. TVS states that it has broadcast continuously since 2015 and has been online since 2016, while a 2023 UNESCO mapping reported less than 24-hour programming; schedules and coverage should therefore be checked with the provider. RTP África and RDP África offer accessible external Portuguese-language alternatives. There is no documented local equivalent of Netflix or another nationwide local subscription video service. TVS provides live and online access, and RNSTP offers web and podcast content. DStv provides paid satellite television and app access through local installation, registration and a smartcard. Netflix lists plans for São Tomé and Príncipe at USD 2.99 to USD 9.99 per month, with cancellation, offline downloads and children’s profiles. Actual access depends on connection quality, electricity, compatible equipment and available data. Facebook has been the dominant social platform in available assessments, while Messenger and WhatsApp are widely used. Instagram and TikTok have had smaller reach, and Twitter has been marginal in earlier election reporting. Internet-use estimates differ by method and reference date: World Bank and ITU data placed usage near 59% in 2024, while DataReportal estimated 61.5% in January 2025. Mobile phones are the main access device, but unstable connections, data prices and power interruptions contribute to a digital divide. Freedom of expression and freedom of the press are protected by Articles 29 and 30 of the Constitution. The Press Law, broadcasting laws and rules on telecommunications, personal data and cybercrime also apply. The Conselho Superior de Imprensa (CSI) is assigned press and broadcasting oversight, while the Autoridade Geral de Regulação (AGER) handles telecommunications, frequencies, numbering and related supervision. The Agência Nacional de Protecção de Dados Pessoais (ANPDP) deals with personal-data protection. Their practical capacity, independence and current enforcement should be checked for the specific issue. Defamation and libel can carry criminal consequences, including fines that EU election observers reported as roughly three months of salary and, for certain protected public figures, roughly six months of salary. Journalists work in a small market with limited advertising revenue, high licensing costs, outdated equipment, low salaries and restricted professional capacity. Reporting often relies on official statements without extensive analysis, and self-censorship has been reported especially in state media. Access to official legal documents can also be difficult. These conditions make it useful to compare state media, private or community radio and independent online reporting rather than relying on one source. Young people participate through U-Report, an SMS and social-media service for polls, information, dialogue and a safe space. UNICEF reporting recorded more than 12,000 U-Reporters aged 15 to 30, including 9,349 aged 15 to 24. Youth programmes have also included digital learning, photography and graphic design, while Youth Interaction Centres operate in São Tomé and Príncipe. Digital-learning initiatives use online and offline tools such as Learning Passport and Akelius. Privacy, online safety and access to suitable content remain practical concerns, especially when connectivity is unstable. Media participation includes calls and messages to RNSTP, community-radio discussions, local debates and live interviews. Radio Tlacha has hosted local election debates, and RSTP has provided diaspora discussions, live video interviews and election-count reporting. Facebook can spread information quickly and support mobilisation, but unclear page ownership, political bias and manipulation create verification risks. During elections, special rules may provide balanced coverage, free airtime and a 24-hour silence period; the 2022 allocation of broadcast time was election-specific and is not a permanent daily rule.