The Independent was a national weekly newspaper published in Papua New Guinea from September 1980 to 5 June 2003.
[3][2] It was known as The Times of Papua New Guinea from its launch in September 1980, with Franz Albert Joku as the inaugural editor until May 1995, when it was re-branded as The Saturday Independent, amidst financial problems.
In 2001, it absorbed another Word Publishing title, PNG Trade Monthly, which became a business lift-out in the newspaper.
[4][5] By the time of its closure, it had bureaus in Mount Hagen, Lae, Rabaul, Madang and Bougainville.
Its former editor, Anna Solomon, noted the paper's independent coverage of scandals concerning the activities of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force in the Bougainville Civil War, while Colin Barron cited its coverage of environmental issues, including critical coverage of activities of logging companies, and willingness to run advertisements informing landowners of their rights.