“gentleman’s agreement”. Channel Swazi is run by a relative to the King and was originally set up to promote the king and the royal family. The Information and Media Policy states that “an independent regulator shall be established to regulate private, public, community and commercial broadcasters…appointments to the regulating body shall be made through a transparent process, including the procedures for issuing rulings and decisions, and the processes for petition or appeal by applicants.” In an effort to implement this policy, the Broadcasting Draft Bill seeks to set up an independent broadcasting regulator. However, stakeholders have lodged objections to the bill’s failure to include adequate protections against political interference. SCORES: Individual scores: Average score: 3.2 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1 1.0 (2005=1.2) The appointments procedure for members of the regulatory body is open and transparent and involves civil society. ANALYSIS: The appointments procedure for the SPTC Board and STVA Board is neither open nor transparent. The relevant ministers directly appoint members for each board. The positions are not advertised and there is no effort to include participation from civil society. SCORES: Individual scores: Average score: 3.3 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1 1.0 (2005=1.1) The body regulates broadcasting in the public interest and ensures fairness and a diversity of views broadly representing society at large. ANALYSIS: There is no evidence of the regulating bodies acting in the public interest and promoting fairness and diversity in the broadcasting sector. Since they are effectively government-controlled and not accountable to the public, they are not expected to espouse these principles, nor do they demonstrate any effort to do so. SCORES: Individual scores: Average score: 3.4 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1 1.0 (2005=1.0) The body’s decisions on licensing in particular are informed by a broadcasting policy developed in a transparent and inclusive manner ANALYSIS: Licensing decisions are not informed by sound policy. In the absence of an independent regulator, government interests determine licensing decisions. As the Information and Media So This Is Democracy? 2007 -238- Media Institute of Southern Africa