communications Act no 11/1983 as amended by No. 6/1988) provide for government control and allocation of broadcasting licenses. The licensing process itself is not free, transparent or fair. SCORES: Individual scores: 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1 Average score: 1.0 2.10 Private media outlets operate as efficient and professional businesses. ANALYSIS: The Times of Swaziland, the only private and oldest newspaper, has been in existence since 1899 and continues to survive and make a profit, which indicates that it is professionally run. The Observer newspaper has until recently been receiving annual subvention from the royal institution, Tibiyo TakaNgwane, which runs the newspaper on behalf of the King. New publications such as the Youth Connexion magazine struggle to survive while the Nation magazine has put in place management controls to ensure efficiency and professionalism. Profitability of the Nation magazine is modest and there is room for improvement. In all publications journalistic professionalism is compromised by the demands of advertisers. It is alleged that editors and journalists have to stick to what the advertisers want. For instance, an advertisement which brings in revenue for the newspaper will usually get preference to a story. SCORES: Individual scores: 5, 2, 2, 2, 3, 2, 3, 3, 3, 1 Average score: 2.6 2.11 State print media are not subsidised with tax payers’ money. ANALYSIS: There is no state print media and therefore no government subsidy. The weekly Swaziland Today, published by government, is seen as a legitimate public relations bulletin. SCORES: Individual scores: 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 5, 4, 5, 4 Average score: 4.8 2.12 Government does not use its power over the placement of advertisements as a means to interfere with media content. ANALYSIS: In May 1997, following stories viewed as critical towards the Prime Minister and the monarchy, government withdrew adverts from the privately-owned Times of Swaziland at the insistence of the then Prime Minister Sibusiso Dlamini. The ban lasted for several months and almost forced the closure of the publication as government’s advertising accounted for about So This Is Democracy? 2005 -252- Media Institute of Southern Africa