3.11 The public broadcaster offers diverse programming for all interests as well as balanced and fair information reflecting the full spectrum of diverse views and opinions. ANALYSIS: Although ZNBC programming is generally diverse, coverage of news and current affairs is heavily skewed toward government and the ruling party, with the president dominating air time. Whereas opposition political parties are made to pay for air time, the government is given free time for its “Government Forum” programme, in addition to the preponderant coverage it already enjoys. News is packaged around prominent personalities (especially government politicians according to rank) rather than the events and issues involved. Coverage of civil society functions depends on whether the first lady or a government minister officiates as the guest of honour. Live talk shows are allowed only when they deal with what the government perceives as “soft” or “safe” topics. Otherwise, panelists are warned to steer clear of certain “sensitive” issues, and, on phone-in discussion programmes, telephone lines have occasionally been known to suddenly develop “technical faults”, thus blacking out voices who might have “negative” contributions to make. There is no fair or balanced coverage, especially at election time. SCORES: Individual scores: 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1 Average score: 1 3.12 The public broadcaster offers as much local content as economically achievable. ANALYSIS: ZNBC offers a great deal of local content in its programming, both on radio and television. Its news contains a lot of local content, perhaps due to its dependence on stories generated by ZANA and the Zambia Information Services, both of which are government units. ZNBC-TV has recently allocated time to vernacular broadcasts in addition to the news in local languages which has been running for a long time now. Radio One is wholly dedicated to programmes in seven local languages. Radio Two is an English service channel which also runs a few programmes in two local languages. Radio Four is a predominantly music channel which, along with Radios One and Two, has done a lot to promote and popularise Zambian music. SCORES: Individual scores: 4, 2, 2, 4, 3, 3, 3, 4 Average score: 3.1 Overall score for sector 3: So This Is Democracy? 2005 1.7 -276- Media Institute of Southern Africa