MISA Regional Annual Report 2023 MISA Regional Programmes Malawi Broadcasting Conference MISA Malawi and MISA Regional jointly organised a broadcasting conference on 30 March 2023. This came after a directive from the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) shuttering broadcasting stations that had not paid their regulatory fees. MISA Malawi and MISA Regional sought to reach common ground with MACRA, pointing out that the COVID-19 pandemic had affected the revenues of media houses, and there was a need for leeway on demanding licence fees. In addition, MISA Malawi and MISA Regional explained that pegging licence fees in US dollars had a detrimental effect on broadcasters’ ability to afford the fees, considering that the country’s currency, the kwacha, had been sharply devalued recently. On its part, MACRA said it would soon commence a review of its regulations and laws on the media and requested that MISA be a part of the process. World Press Freedom Day Commemorations MISA Regional participated in the organisation of the Africa Media Convention, a meeting of journalists, stakeholders, academics and freedom of expression activists on May 11, 2023, in Lusaka, Zambia. The AMC coincides with World Press Freedom Day commemorations. MISA Regional invited Ministry of Information officials from four countries – Namibia, Malawi, Zambia and Zimbabwe to be part of the commemorations. The four directors in the Ministry of Information of the respective countries also participated in the launch of the annual State of Press Freedom 12 in Southern Africa report, where they participated in a conversation on media freedom in the region. Officials from Namibia and Zambia endorsed the State of Press Freedom in Southern Africa Report. However, Malawi and Zambia voiced their concern about some aspects of the report, which the hosts adequately elaborated and attended to. Spaces of Solidarity MISA Regional hosted the second meeting of the Spaces of Solidarity platform. The meeting was held over two-and-a-half days from 12 to 14 September 2023 in Johannesburg, South Africa and brought together representatives from MISA chapters and 13 other organisations. Participants were drawn from MISA chapters, Deutsche Welle Akademie, INK Botswana, PANOS Institute Southern Africa, The Hub Lesotho, CITE Zimbabwe, the Centre for Human Rights University of Pretoria, Cybersmart Botswana, Namibia Media Trust, Media Council of Malawi, IPPR/ACTION, WANIFRA and Bloggers of Zambia. The meeting shaped the organisations’ priorities for the coming year. The focus is on four thematic areas: shrinking civic space, safety and security of journalists, digital rights and cybersecurity, and freedom of expression. Focus groups on the uptake of artificial intelligence in the region Three focus group meetings were held in Bulawayo, Harare, and Johannesburg to discuss the uptake of AI in Southern Africa. Further virtual meetings were held with Key Interview Informants (KII) in Lusaka, Zambia; and Gaborone, Botswana. The discussions focused on how often certain groups of people interacted with AI and the benefits to their professions. The meetings www.misa.org