1.7 Civil society in general and media lobby groups actively advance the c ause of media freedom. ANALYSIS: Civil society efforts have played a major role in the achievements made so far in advancing the cause of media freedom. The government’s tabling of the Independent Broadcasting Authority (IBA) and the Zambia National Broadcasting Corporation (Amendment) Acts was largely instigated by civil society. The government was prompted to introduce the two bills to avoid being upstaged by civil society who had planned to table them before parliament through private members’ motions. In these – and previous – attempts to reform media legislation the government has always been a reluctant actor at best, and was more of a hindrance than a driving force. The civil society-media partnership, however, is not completely harmonious. In the media’s view, civil society seeks partnership as a way of promoting its own pointed and often partisan agendas. On its part, civil society resents what it perceives as the media’s selfish quest for special privileges which would, in effect, make it a class above others. As civil society sees it, the media agenda has been compressed to emphasise only media interests to the exclusion of those of civil society and the public in general. Media lobby groups have not done sufficient work in launching sustained campaigns. There has been talk about media reform since 1992. Now the media fraternity is too preoccupied with the implementation of the two broadcasting acts and unwilling or unable to test other waters such as the necessary repeal of oppressive security and other laws. Clearly, there is need for focused co-ordination, collaboration and closer linkages between civil society and the media on issues of common concern. SCORES: Individual scores: 3, 5, 4, 4, 3, 3, 4, 4, 5 Average score: 3.9 Overall score for sector 1: 2.3 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: There is a wide range of information sources available: print, broadcast, and the internet. But there is a problem with distribution and affordability. Major strides have been made in the area So This Is Democracy? 2005 -267- Media Institute of Southern Africa