SCORES: Individual scores: 1, 2, 3, 4, 2, 2, 4, 2 Average score: 2.5 2.12 Government does not use its power over the placement of advertisements as a means to interfere with media content. ANALYSIS: As recently as 2002, the Secretary to the Cabinet issued a directive as to which media outlets could receive government advertising money. Those viewed as anti-government could not. Today, the Post newspaper, in spite of its history of acrimonious relations with the state, enjoys more advertising support from the government than the state media because it is now seen as a partner in the anti-corruption fight. Clearly, the government places advertisements according to its political agenda and, therefore, uses the power of its advertising budget to influence media content. However, this is not as overt and pronounced as was the case under the Kaunda regime. SCORES: Individual scores: 2, 2, 3, 1, 2, 3, 1, 2 Average score: 2 2.13 The advertising market is large enough to maintain a diversity of media outlets. ANALYSIS: There is consensus that even with the economic constraints plaguing the country, the advertising market seems to be large enough to support the existing number of media houses. Evidence of that is the amount of advertising in the three dailies. The agencies clearly go for maximum impact and place their ads in the Post, Times and Mail. Smaller or emerging publications thus have little chance of profiting from the overall ad spend. SCORES: Individual scores: 1, 1, 2, 4, 3, 3, 2, 4 Average score: 2.5 Overall score for sector 2: So This Is Democracy? 2005 2.3 -272- Media Institute of Southern Africa