Sector 4: The media practice high levels of professional standards. 4.1 The media follow voluntary codes of professional standards which are enforced by self-regulatory bodies. ANALYSIS: The Swaziland National Association of Journalists (SNAJ) in 2002 developed and approved a code of ethics to ensure professional standards are maintained by all journalists practicing in the country. The code was recently updated to include clauses on the coverage of HIV/AIDS and gender issues. However, in the absence of an enforcement instrument to ensure the code of ethics is adhered to, SNAJ currently relies on willing editors in newsrooms to sensitise journalists about the code. SNAJ has also embarked on an awareness campaign to educate its members about the code. This is an ongoing challenge because of high staff turnover. Due to low pay and poor working conditions, more and more journalists are leaving the profession for greener pastures. The result is a dangerous juniorisation in the newsrooms. In the absence of an umbrella body to enforce the code of ethics, each newsroom has developed its own professional standards. For instance, the Times of Swaziland has created an internal ombudsman to address concerns of readers and sanction offending journalists. The Observer has its own internal structures to address concerns raised by readers. When the Observer loses a court case, the editor is made to pay a portion of the awarded damages from his own pocket. Owners are reluctant to endorse the common SNAJ code because they regard professional standards as “our own turf”. Their main criterion for editorial decisions is said to be the question “Are we going to be sued?” There is hardly any introduction to ethical standards for newcomers in the profession, the motto rather being “give them a pad and a pen”, and tell them to “go and find a story”. There is no mentoring in the newsrooms. Journalists, for their part, tend to see a code as a straightjacket and not as a means to help them improve their performance. Members of the public are not yet aware of the existence of the SNAJ code. Efforts are under way to put in place a Media Complaints Commission (MCC). The process is currently in its final stages. As soon as all stakeholders agree on the structure, the MCC is expected to begin operations. SCORES: Individual scores: 1, 2, 2, 1, 1, 2, 1, 1, 1, 1 Average score: 1.3 4.2 The standard of reporting follows the basic principles of accuracy and fairness. ANALYSIS: The general perception is that ownership structures and stakeholder considerations influence the degree of accuracy and fairness exercised. Different media have their own ‘sacred cows’ So This Is Democracy? 2005 -258- Media Institute of Southern Africa