Sector 2: The media landscape is characterised by diversity, independence and sustainability. 2.1 A wide range of sources of information (print, broadcasting, internet) is available and affordable to citizens. ANALYSIS: A wide range of information sources is available: print, broadcast, and the internet. Radio is by far the most widespread medium in Swaziland. The SBIS (state broadcaster) signal reaches all parts of Swaziland and covers about 99 per cent of the country. SBIS broadcasts on two channels: English and SiSwati. This enables Swazis, including rural audiences, access to information in the country’s two main languages. Almost every Swazi household, both urban and rural, owns a radio set. Community radio is not yet available. Television, though largely an urban medium, reaches about 70 per cent of the country. Swaziland has two television stations: Swazi TV (state owned) and Channel Swazi (private). Radio and TV stations of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC) spill over into the country and complement the overall offer to the citizens. The country’s two daily newspapers, The Times of Swaziland (private) and the Swazi Observer (owned by the King through a royal conglomerate) also put out weekend editions. The Times has a daily print run of 22 000 copies (with an estimated 110.00 readers) and the Observer about 15 000 (88.000 readers). For a small country like Swaziland with a population of 1 million, the combined daily newspaper circulation of 37 000 copies (and nearly 200.000 readers) is seen as reasonable. At E2 per copy, newspapers are still affordable even for rural communities (a loaf of bread costs E3.50). The Times also prints a vernacular paper, Tikhatsi TeMaswati, which is published daily with a circulation of 2 000 copies at E1 per copy. People prefer to read English, however, as English is the medium of instruction in schools. There are also two monthly magazines: The Nation and Youth Connexion. Both magazines have a combined circulation of 3 500. But at about E10 per copy, they are unaffordable for the great majority, particularly rural communities who are characterised by high levels of poverty. Internet is available but still limited to urban centres. It is non-existent in rural communities. At E10 an hour, internet browsing is expensive and beyond the reach of most people. SCORES: Individual scores: 5, 4, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3, 3, 3, 2 Average score: 2.9 2.2 Citizens’ access to domestic and international media sources is not restricted by state authorities. ANALYSIS: Citizens’ access to international media is not restricted by the state, although in some instances So This Is Democracy? 2005 -248- Media Institute of Southern Africa