STATE OF THE MEDIA IN ZAMBIA economy. It is therefore important that government introduces more sectorspecific packages such as those extended to the arts sector through the Ministry of Tourism and Arts. The economic environment, thus, remained unstable throughout both quarters and this negatively affected the media industry. 3.3. Technological Environment and Freedom of Expression Online The two quarters did not have many occurrences in the technological environment and freedom of expression online. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic affected the means of gathering information in view of the restrictions on public gatherings, the need for social distancing and other preventive measures. As such, media houses had to rely on alternative means to gather information and conduct interviews-including the use of virtual meeting platforms to host sources on radio and TV programmes42. One such programme is Night Live which is aired on Diamond Television and utilised Zoom Meetings to host guests and run expert debates. This was also confirmed by some of the journalists interviewed. For example, Mweemba Banda, a practising journalist at Radio Maranatha in Kabwe had this to say: The advent of Corona made work difficult; this led to cancellation and halting of some programs, and news gathering moved from the traditional way of interviewing sources to the use of social media platforms such as WhatsApp and Facebook which have played a key role in ensuring that information continues to flow Another issue worth noting is a warning issued on 1st February by the Independent Broadcasting Authority to broadcast media houses on the use of social and online media for news. The warning followed coverage of outspoken Prophet Andrew Ejimadu alias Seer One who held regular addresses on various matters on his social media pages. The Lusaka Times online publication carried the following: pg. 37