There was the impression that analysis of issues had become more shallow, however, and that the “focus was more on the person and not the issue”. Since Informanté is still a relatively new player on the media scene, it remains to be seen how the generally sensationalist tabloid will fare in terms of accuracy and fairness. SCORES: Individual scores: 3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3, 4, 3 Average score: 3.6 (2005 = 3.0) 4.3 The media cover the full spectrum of events, issues and cultures, including business/economics, cultural, local and investigative stories. ANALYSIS: There has been a substantial improvement in the media covering the full spectrum of events in the last few years, particularly with the emergence of specialist magazines and online publications dedicated to sports, economics, music and culture, for example. Unfortunately most of these developments are centred in the capital, Windhoek. In this regard, it is particularly disappointing that community radio stations have not taken off in rural areas to cover local issues. Little has changed since 2005: people with money and living in Windhoek can get the full spectrum of news but the greater the distance from the centre, the less choice people have. The free-to-air local channels provide a broader perspective on global events by broadcasting BBC (One Africa Television) and CCTV, Deutsche Welle and CNN (NBC). It was felt that the daily newspapers have not built up their pool of specialised skills to report certain subjects in depth. On a positive note, investigative reporting has improved in the last two years, particularly by The Namibian, New Era, Insight and Informanté. In terms of geographic coverage there have also been some positive developments since the 2005 report, with Die Republikein, New Era and The Namibian seemingly reinventing themselves by regularly covering areas formerly marginalised by the press: eastern and southern Namibia. SCORES: Individual scores: 3, 4, 4, 4, 3, 4, 4, 3, 4 Average score: 3.7 (2005 = 3.1) 4.4 Gender mainstreaming is promoted in terms of equal participation of both sexes in the production process. ANALYSIS: The panel agreed on the definition of gender mainstreaming in this context being that both sexes have equal opportunities, professionally, in the newsroom. The degree to which gender mainstreaming is promoted in terms of equal participation of both sexes in the production process is mixed. While the staff of the NBC German service and The So This Is Democracy? 2007 -215- Media Institute of Southern Africa