SECTOR 2 Scores: Individual scores: 1 Country does not meet indicator 2 Country meets only a few aspects of indicator 3 Country meets some aspects of indicator 4 Country meets most aspects of indicator. 5 Country meets all aspects of the indicator Average score: 3.5 (2005 = 2.8; 2007 = 3.7; 2009 = 2.5) 2.4 The editorial independence of print media published by a public authority is protected adequately against undue political interference. “The managing editor of any state newspaper is an endangered species.” In terms of the state-run Zambia Daily Mail and the Times of Zambia, editorially there is no legal protection from political interference and such interference is common. “The state always interferes: that is our culture.” Political interference is also evident in self-censorship within the state’s print media, as these newspapers are blatantly biased towards government. Stories in these newspapers often focus on government’s reaction to issues, before readers are even told what the initial issue is. “The managing editor of any state newspaper is an endangered species. They are appointed by the Minister of Information and Broadcasting Services and have to toe the (government) line if they want to keep their jobs.” AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER ZAMBIA 2011 31