State of the media in Southern Africa - 2004 Considering media freedom Media freedom is a constitutional guarantee and is enshrined in the 1995 Constitution of the Republic of Malawi. Its implementation, existence and success is not the preserve of an elected individual, a ruling political party or any international pressure group — it must be understood as an inalienable right of the Malawian. Media Fraternity Malawi is divided into three administrative regions: the northern, central and southern regions. European settlers preferred the southern region, particularly Blantyre, which is recognised as the commercial and industrial capital of Malawi. A quick check of tables 1 and 2 confirms a heavy concentration of media activity and establishments in Blantyre. Lilongwe in the central region placed second, while the northern region mostly consumes media products from the other two regions. Ironically, the most active media fraternities are the Nyika Press Club in Mzuzu (northern region) and the Lilongwe Press Club (central region). Blantyre does not have any vibrant media fraternities and where they do exist, they do so to support causes incidental rather than central to media activity. Some of the notable media fraternities that are now dormant are Journalists Association of Malawi (JAMA), Publishers Association of Malawi (PAMA), Malawi Women Media Association (MAMWA) and the Kabula Press Club. Viva MISA! In the absence of vibrant media fraternities, NAMISA, the Malawi Chapter of MISA, has tended to fill the void and was sometimes supported by the Media Council of Malawi, which is another sleeping media partner at the moment. Most of the attacks on the media in Malawi are therefore, not surprisingly, criticised by NAMISA. Conclusion and self-critique In a way, Malawian journalists manifest a weakness in voluntary mobilisation of their labour and interests compared to journalists elsewhere in the world. This has tended to work in favour of media establishments to divide the journalists and at times in favour of the government when it wishes to wage war on the media. So This Is Democracy? 2004 61 Media Institute of Southern Africa