A group of 42 Year 8 students from Faleasi’u Primary School left the confines of their classroom for a first-hand view of the offices and printing press that produces the Samoa Observer, the country’s only daily newspaper.

Ivona Aleki Taimalie, the Vice Principal at Faleasi’u Primary School, said the visit on Friday morning was to give students a real life experience of the work of the media.

A number of parents accompanied the students and educators to the Samoa Observer grounds in Vaitele Uta. The large group filled two buses.

Year 8 students at Faleasi’u are currently learning about the various types of media, the communications field and journalism, said Ms. Taimalie.

It is part of their curriculum, she noted.

“The [field trip] was to observe the newspaper as a type of media,” Ms. Taimalie said.

“It’s part of the curriculum and they really enjoyed the experience.

The visitors were lead on a tour of the offices and printing press by newspaper's Editor (Development) Alexander Rheeney and the Editor-In-Chief, Gatoaitele Savea Sano Malifa.

“The children were so inspired by Savea,” Ms. Taimalie said.

During the educational tour, students and parents perused the newspaper’s awards display, looked over historic relics, asked questions and toured the printing facilities.

“The parents really enjoyed it too. They asked a lot of questions. This was their first time seeing this because they usually only see the paper at the store,” added Ms. Taimalie.

“This kind of field trip broadens the understanding of our students and we hope to continue with this type of learning.”

Visitors learned about the great deal of work that goes into publishing the daily newspaper.

“The students also learned about photography, the different writing and the parts of the paper like the C.T.P. [computer to plate] room and layout,” said Ms. Taimalie.

“It’s not an easy job as well.”

Ms. Taimalie believes Faleasi’u is the first school in the A’ana District to have visited the Samoa Observer compound in Vaitele Uta.

“Definitely [we will be back] next year,” she said.

The students, at the end of their tour, thanked Gatoaitele and Mr Rheeney for taking them on a tour of the newsroom, CTP room and the print press.

Gatoaitele, in response to the students' expression of appreciation, thanked the students, teachers and parents for visiting the company premises of the Samoa Observer.