As a general rule, salaries for journalists in Botswana are based on comparable industry salary
levels. Journalists are expected to declare gifts and the nature of such gifts to determine whether
or not they should be allowed to keep them. There are clear divisions between the editorial and
the marketing departments in most media houses in the country.
SCORES:
Individual scores:
Average score:

4.7

4, 3, 2, 3, 5, 4, 4, 4, 2, 3
3.4

Training facilities offer formal qualification programmes for journalists
as well as opportunities to upgrade their skills.

ANALYSIS:
Short-term training is available and MISA informs media houses regularly on such opportunities. Many students were trained in media all over the world on government scholarships and
locally at the University of Botswana. In addition there have also been many short courses
offered by several institutions in the region. At the moment, there are even too many journalism graduates in the country and not enough full-time jobs available for them.
There are also efforts to take on interns, but there is not enough capacity to give all of those
interested a chance.
SCORES:
Individual scores:
Average score:

4.8

4, 4, 4, 2, 4, 4, 5, 5, 4, 4
4.0

Journalists and other media practitioners are organised in trade unions
and/or professional associations.

ANALYSIS:
There are various media organisations in the country such as the Botswana MISA chapter, the
Botswana Press Club, the Botswana Media Women’s Association and the Botswana Journalists Association, with the latter apparently not being functional at present.
SCORES:
Individual scores:
Average score:

4.9.

5, 3, 3, 2, 3, 4, 5, 4, 3, 4
3.6

Gender mainstreaming is promoted in terms of equal participation of
both sexes in the production process.

ANALYSIS:
Women are in top decision-making positions in some media such as the Voice or the Gazette.
There have been more women journalists joining the profession in the recent past. However,
many women journalists find journalism to be too confrontational in nature and are wary of
going out and facing up to controversial cultural or political issues, in particular because most
opinion makers and decision-makers are men. Many prefer desk jobs and others leave for
public relations jobs. There are much fewer female than male applicants for journalistic jobs.
So This Is Democracy? 2005

-205-

Media Institute of Southern Africa

Select target paragraph3