SCORES: Individual scores: Average score: 2.11 2, 1, 2, 2, 2, 2, 4, 2, 2, 2 2.3 (2006 = 3.6) State print media are not subsidised with tax payers’ money. ANALYSIS: There are no clear indicators of direct budget subsidies but as state media, like any other, are suffering from the shrinking of advertising revenue due to economic and political reasons, it is highly likely that newsprint and fuel are being subsidised. However, there is no hard evidence to prove this. SCORES Individual scores: Average score: 2.12 3, 5, 4, 3, 3, 3, 4, 3, 2, 4 3.4 (2006 = 1.4) Government does not use its power over the placement of advertisements as a means of interference with media content. ANALYSIS: Advertisements are screened by personnel at the state media organisations. Parastatal companies advertise overwhelmingly in the state run papers. Directives oblige all state run universities not to advertise in the private media. The state run media are also directed not to take advertisements from certain companies associated with the opposition. SCORES: Individual scores: Average score: 2.13 3, 2, 2, 3, 1, 3, 2, 1, 1, 3 2.3 (2006 = 1.0) The advertising market is large enough to maintain a diversity of media outlets. ANALYSIS: Although there is a perception that the papers are full of ads, in reality only very few companies can still afford to advertise. Most if not all advertising budgets have been drastically slashed due to stringent cost cutting measures within the corporate sector. The only relief comes from three key areas: NGOs, banks and seasonal advertisements that are mandatory such as audited financial statements of companies listed on the Zimbabwe Stock Exchange at the end of March. Rates on radio are very low, so while there may be considerable volumes of advertising there is often no real income. Advertising agencies are either downsizing or closing down. So This Is Democracy? 2008 -268- Media Institute of Southern Africa