2.12 Government does not use its power over the placement of advertisements as a means to interfere with media content ANALYSIS: Almost 80 per cent of advertising in print media comes from Government and Governmentfunded projects. Most of the advertising is placed in the dailies because of the regularity of their publication and the spread of their target audiences. Although there is no clear-cut policy on government advertising, procurement procedures would almost certainly favour the same private commercial print media. Private commercial and community media, however, do not enjoy such voluminous advertising from government. The market forces seem to dictate government advertising more than issues of power do. SCORES: Individual scores: Average score: 2.13 5, 4, 4, 4, 5, 4, 5, 2, 4 4.1 (2006 = 3.2) The advertising market is large enough to maintain a diversity of media outlets ANALYSIS: The current growth of the media in Malawi outweighs the advertising market. In addition, the economic downturn has put a squeeze on the advertising budgets of many companies such that the corporate culture in Malawi is hard to analyse and predict. Indications are that the marketing strategies of the media seem challenged to attract advertising. One of the strategies is in running advertising supplements for niche audiences. SCORES: Individual scores: Average score: 3, 1, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 2, 2 2.3 (2006 = 2.2) OVERALL SCORE FOR SECTOR 2: 2.5 So This Is Democracy? 2008 -185- (2006 = 2.4) Media Institute of Southern Africa