ample, Capital Radio is still fighting a defamation case in court arguing that the laws used contradict the constitution. A senior editor at the Nation has threatened to sue the Sunday Times for defaming him in its gossip column, thedrycleaner. The former minister, Philip Bwanali, has sued the MBC, TVM and the government; the first lady, Ethel Mutharika, has sued the Nation for defamation. The Attorney General, Ralph Kasambara has sued the Dispatch and Press Corporation’s chief executive, Mathews Chikaonda, has also threatened to sue the same newspaper. The defamation cases against the media are mostly due to ignorance on the part of the media about defamation. It can be argued that those who sued the media in 2005 were justified because they used the law as it stands now. Journalists need to unite and fight for the repeal of all the 40 anti-media laws in order to create a more enabling media environment. Media diversity At the end of 2005, the following newspapers were in circulation: Newspaper Publisher Circulation Distribution Frequency Daily Times Blantyre Newspapers Ltd 12 000 Malawi News Blantyre Newspapers Ltd 28 000 1 National Daily (Mon-Fri) National Weekly (Saturday) Sunday Times Blantyre Newspapers Ltd 16 000 National Weekly (Sunday) Nation Nation Publications Ltd 16 000 -20 0002 National Daily (Mon-Fri) Weekend Nation Nation Publications Ltd 40 000 -45 000 National Weekly (Saturday) The Chronicle Jamieson Promotions 4 000 -6 0003 National Weekly (Tuesday) The Dispatch 3 0004 National Weekly (Thurs) Dispatch Publications Ltd 5 Boma Lathu Information Dept 50 000 National Monthly Weekly News Information Dept 2 000 National Weekly (Monday) At the end of 2005, the following broadcasting stations were on air: Radio/TV Station Owner Classification Coverage MBC 1 & 2 and TVM Malawi Gvt Public Service National Capital Radio Capital Radio Private National (mainly urban areas) Power 101 FM Oscar Thomson Private National (mainly urban areas) So This Is Democracy? 2005 -64- Media Institute of Southern Africa