subsidies from the Government. They also receive other support such as guarantees of loans
to buy their printing press and low rents for their premises.
SCORES:
Individual scores:
Average score:

2.12

2, 2, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2,2
1.9
(2006= 2.4)

Government does not use its power over the placement of advertisements
as a means to interfere with media content.

ANALYSIS:
The government is the largest advertiser in the country and it gives priority of its advertisements
to state/public owned media, and to media which is “friendly” with it.
There are media outlets which do not receive any Government advertisements because they
are deemed to be too critical of Government. There have been even attempts by Government
to restrain advertisements that are deemed too critical of Government. For example the Haki
Elimu advertisements which depicted a glaring disparity in the education standards and opportunities for Tanzanian children from poor and affluent families were discontinued from
being aired on radio and television because the Government felt that they distorted its image.
SCORES:
Individual scores: 1, 1, 1, 1, 4, 3, 3, 2, 2
Average score:
2.0
(2006= 2.4)

2.13

The advertising market is large enough to maintain a diversity of media
outlets.

ANALYSIS:
The advertisement market is not large enough to sustain the media industry. The biggest advertisers are the Government, Mobile phone companies and beer companies mostly Tanzania
Breweries. All media houses have to scramble for a share of the limited market.
Small and medium scale companies do not advertise mostly because there is no culture of
advertising and also because they are afraid of taxes.
The yellow press which has quite a big circulation does not attract advertisements but rely
mostly on the cover price.
SCORES:
Individual scores:
Average score:

1, 1, 1, 2, 3, 3, 2, 2, 2
1.9
(2006= 2.1)

OVERALL SCORE FOR SECTOR 2:
So This Is Democracy? 2008

-235-

2.2 (2006=2.3)
Media Institute of Southern Africa

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