SECTOR 4 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: 2.8 (2005 = 2.9; 2007 = 2.1) 4.3 The media cover the full spectrum of events, issues and cultures, including business / economics, cultural, local and investigative stories. Analysis: While the print media try to cover a large proportion of local events and issues, including economics, there is generally no depth in the reporting. This is a result of the industry being very small and under-resourced. No newspaper, for example, has the funds for a dedicated investigative desk. Another serious constraint to investigative reporting is the lack of access to information legislation. “It is an uphill struggle, especially with laws like the Public Service Act: people are now even less inclined to talk, even off-the-record, for fear of dismissal. With the Intelligence and Security Services Act, people are always conscious of being spied upon. The National Security Act and the Media Practitioners Act also impact heavily on the way that journalists operate.” When some newspapers, such as the Sunday Standard, publish investigative-type stories, they tend to get into trouble with the government (see indicator 1.2). Media houses fail to retain experienced journalists and many of those employed in the sector are given jobs because they are “affordable” since they are not formally trained. Most media content is urban-based as media houses, especially the private media, cannot afford to have staff or even freelancers throughout the country. Thus, rural areas tend to be sidelined by the media. The state media, through the Botswana Press Agency, has staff around the country, who are not necessarily qualified AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER BOTSWANA 2009 59