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: 1.9 (2005 = n/a; 2007 = n/a) 2.8 All media fairly reflect the voices of society in its ethnic, linguistic, religious, political and social diversity. Analysis: “The media is ‘personality driven’: if you want coverage at your event, you get an important speaker...” The media in Botswana does not reflect all the voices within the society and is thus not balanced. The government media, for example, covers only one political party, the ruling BDP, while there is a perception that the private media focus more on the opposition parties. The voices heard in the media are of leadership – be they state or private. Thus, the media is perpetuating social divisions in the country by not including the voices of people across all social strata. This is most probably because the media in Botswana covers events, driven by those in powerful positions, rather than issues. “The media is ‘personality driven’: if you want coverage at your event, you get an important speaker. Because of the limited resources available to the media, high profile personalities or events will get the coverage.” Linguistically, the main national language of Setswana is sidelined in favour of the official language, English. The only religion that gets any media coverage is Christianity. 36 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER BOTSWANA 2009