ANALYSIS: There is no independent news agency. The country’s only news agency, AIM, only distributes its material to selected media, namely Notícias, RM and the privately-owned Diário de Moçambique. For international news, the Portuguese news agency, LUSA, is used. Although it has an agreement with AIM to distribute its information to other media, it prefers to deal directly with RM, Notícias and Diário de Moçambique. Other newspapers are not very interested in paying for the service because the news that sells papers is mostly local news and not international information. English-language news agencies such as IRIN, IPS are not used because of the language barrier. SCORES: Individual scores: Average score: 2.8 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1 1.0 Media diversity is promoted through adequate competition regulation/ legislation. ANALYSIS: There is no regulation preventing diversity, but there is certainly no policy to promote it. There is also no policy that prevents media institutions from diversifying into other types of media. For example, the SOICO group owns a newspaper, a radio station and a television channel. This contrasts with South Africa, where a clause on cross-ownership is part of the regulations on competition. The clause aims at preventing a media institution that is dominant in one area or sector from becoming a strong player in another area/ sector. SCORES: Individual scores: Average score: 2.9 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1 1.0 Government promotes a political and economic environment which allows a diverse media landscape. ANALYSIS: Government promotes only “public” media. For example, the heads of such institutions can benefit from tax exemption which is not extended to the independent players. Furthermore, publicly-owned institutions can get tax exemption for equipment, which is again not enjoyed by the independent media. SCORES: Individual scores: Average score: So This Is Democracy? 2005 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 3, 1, 2, 2 1.4 -214- Media Institute of Southern Africa