SECTOR 2

Scores:
Individual scores:
1

Country does not meet indicator

2

Country minimally meets aspects of the indicator.

3

Country meets many aspects of indicator but
progress may be too recent to judge.

4

Country meets most aspects of indicator.

5

Country meets all aspects of the indicator and has
been doing so over time.

Average score: 			

1.0 (2005 = 1.2; 2007 = 1.1)

2.6
Government promotes a diverse media
landscape with economically sustainable and
independent media outlets.
Analysis:
The government does not support a diverse, sustainable and independent media
environment as no incentives are given to private media enterprises, which are
also taxed. In addition, the government competes directly with private print and
broadcasting media in terms of advertising by undercutting the rates offered by
private media companies. The state media also has the advantage of having a wider
reach than the private media. Before the Daily News went ‘commercial’ and began
to compete with the private media for advertising in 2003, it was a four-page,
black-and-white daily newspaper. Today it is regularly 32 pages, full colour with a
60:40 ratio of advertising to editorial.
Since state-funded media do not have to rely on advertising revenue and have
a guaranteed income from the government through taxpayers’ contributions,
the operational and commercial challenges affecting the private media are not
a concern. The Daily News is well known for its inefficiency in collecting its
advertising revenue, which makes advertisers more likely to use the sometimesfree services of the state-funded newspaper.

AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER BOTSWANA 2009

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