Former JAWS President Rudy Bartley Farewelled

By Esther Yvonne Atonio*/

Apia, Samoa – 24 October 2025 – The former President of the National Media Association of Samoa (JAWS), Rudolp (Rudy), Charles Edward Bartley was farewelled today with his funeral service at the Catholic Cathedral, Mulivai.

Rudy’s brother Mark provided a family eulogy where he talked about the Rudy being a simple person.

“Rudy was a humble person who always found ways to help others,” said Mark.

Last night the media had a special family service for Rudy where journalists who worked with him, shared their stories about Rudy.

JAWS President Lagi Keresoma said Rudy had nurtured many young people in the media.

“He may be gone, but his legacy remains in the heart of his media family,” she said.

Other media personal spoke of how Rudy assisted and helped them.

They also shared the serious and humours side of Rudy.

Tupua Tosimaea Tupua shared how Rudy provided an “exceptional reference” that landed him a job at the CCTV in China and later Aljazeera TV.

Rudy has been JAWS President for four years and have fought to remove the criminal libel law.

He also headed the Pacific Island News Association (PINA) sub committee on Anti Corruption.

Founder of the WTMedia production company, he was found, still in a seated position in the production room having worked on a production project early last Tuesday morning.

The 58-year-old Rudy’s legacy was leaving behind a group of trained proteges in television and video production field. Six of them work with his company, and several are working at NUS, Ministry of Health, Education and Agriculture.

His funeral service was held at the Mulivai Cathedral and his resting place at the Maagiagi cemetery.

• Esther Yvonne Atonio is a second year student at the NUS Media Studies Program.

Rudy’s coffin carried by media colleagues and former students of Samoa College (SCOPA)