ises are allowed to be made regarding coverage in exchange for trips. The rule is that coverage and reviews will be critical but balanced, and news choices will be based only on news values. Many newspapers have ethics codes in place which, for example, prevent journalists from accepting gifts valued at more than R100 (an unrealistically low figure) or from going on trips when they are not covering a story. Cases of “brown envelope journalism” (stories that are paid for) are rare but they do occur. SCORES: Individual scores: Average score: 4.9 3, 2, 3, 3, 2, 3, 3, 4, 3 2.9 (2006 = 2.9) Training facilities offer formal qualification programmes for journalists as well as opportunities to upgrade their skills. ANALYSIS: Journalism and/or media studies qualifications are offered at most universities and technikons. A few universities also offer post-graduate journalism degrees. The media industry complains, however, that tertiary journalism qualifications are not of sufficiently high standard, that practical skills are not adequately imparted and that those who received tertiary training have been found to lack competency when put into newsrooms. It seems that institutions like the previous Technikons have a more hands-on approach than the traditional universities. The latter, though, are also introducing more and more practical components into their curricula and the quality of their graduates is improving. There are some training institutions, in particular the Institute for the Advancement of Journalism, that run short courses for on-going training of working journalists. Most of these previously offered only certificates of attendance, but with the institution of the National Qualifications Framework and the Sector Education and Training Authorities (Setas), a basic journalism qualification has been drawn up with three possible areas of specialisation. Setas are supposed to be financed by the National Skills Levy obtained from the industry which in turn can claim expenses from this fund for skills programmes and training towards qualifications. In practice, however, the Seta has all but collapsed. This had a negative impact also on in-house training. But most media houses have continued their efforts to provide journalism training, e.g. cadet courses, and further education to staff. SCORES: Individual scores: Average score: 4.10 3, 5, 3, 2, 3, 4, 5, 5, 4 3.8 (2006 = 4.0) Journalists and other media practitioners are organised in trade unions and / or professional associations. ANALYSIS: The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF), a professional organisation for editors So This Is Democracy? 2008 -221- Media Institute of Southern Africa