Samoa's deputy prime minister, Fonotoe Pierre Lauofo, says it's timely to establish a media monitoring body with the increase in media outlets in the country.
Fonotoe was speaking at the opening of a seminar in Apia to develop media in support of better governance in the region.
He says the proposed council should not be seen as a regulatory body, but a complaints council, to ensure accurate, fair and factual reporting.
The deputy prime minister says the council would consider complaints about publications and broadcasts, and so eliminate costly litigation.
He says journalists and reporters could also take grievances to the Media Council against their editors and publishers.
He says it will be run by the media industry.
