SECTOR 4 The media practise high levels of professional standards. 4.1 The media follow voluntary codes of professional standards, which are enforced by selfregulatory bodies that deal with complaints from the public. Analysis: A media code of ethics for all media, except the electronic media, was drafted by the self-regulatory, voluntary Press Council of Botswana in 2002 and adopted by media houses in 2004. The Press Council’s members are state and private media houses: publishers or print media and directors of broadcasting companies. “The Press Council exists to protect the public from abuse in the media.” The Press Council has a complaints committee, comprising nine members – four from the media sector and five from the general public, and an appeals committee with a member each from the legal, public and media sectors. The complaints committee uses the code of ethics to adjudicate on complaints. “The Press Council exists to protect the public from abuse in the media.” After adjudication, if the media was found to be in the wrong, there is an agreement that the media will publish the full report of the complaints committee and an apology. This is not enforceable and the government media, for example, has never published any of these reports. Most of the media houses do follow the committee’s rulings, however. The Press Council’s annual report shows the kind of complaints that have been made throughout the year. The complaints usually focus on issues of fairness and balance, and are mostly brought about by the process that exists. Before the existence of the Press Council, there was a lot of litigation in the courts against the media. Since the establishment of the self-regulatory body, most of these types of complaints have been addressed by the Press Council. Those still feeling aggrieved after following the Press Council process, however, may still take the matter to court. 56 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER BOTSWANA 2009