4.3 The media cover the full spectrum of events, issues and cultures, including business/economics, cultural, local and investigative stories. ANALYSIS: The breadth of content in the media is satisfactory, but investigative stories are “no longer here” and the depth of reporting generally is very poor. Most reports are superficial, lacking adequate information and analysis: “Journalists can be patronisingly simple.” Lack of skills and experience, both in print and broadcasting, is a key reason for simplistic reporting. In addition, journalists don’t specialise in select fields to enable them to produce indepth stories and this is compounded by journalists’ tendency to rely on their own knowledge rather than seek analysis and comment from experts. “Most journalists assume they know everything.” This know-it-all attitude together with an increased awareness of workplace rights has meant editors are less inclined to come down hard on reporters to produce better quality work: “Editors are not as tough on reporters as they used to be.” Media houses don’t invest time and money in investigative reporting. Journalists are rarely afforded the time and resources to develop stories over a long period. SCORES: Individual scores: Average score: 4.4 3, 4, 3, 2, 2, 3, 2, 3 2.8 (2005=3.4) Gender mainstreaming is promoted in terms of equal participation of both sexes in the production process. ANALYSIS: Although no media house has adopted gender policies that promote equal opportunities for both sexes, there is a sense that more women are working in the media than two years ago. The Times of Swaziland has women in a few key positions – entertainment editor, business editor and world news editor. But notably all senior editors are men. Similarly at the Observer, while the CEO, marketing manager and business editor are women, the top editors are all men. A MISA Swaziland study revealed that in print news reporting, 21% of stories are written by female journalists. It was agreed that women do have equal opportunity in the media industry: “Opportunities are there, but women don’t push hard enough.” But there was also acknowledgement that gender prejudices persist. For example, some editors prefer to assign stories to male reporters because they trust them to get the job done (“Women can’t detach from the story”). SCORES: Individual scores: Average score: So This Is Democracy? 2007 2, 4, 3, 3, 3, 3, 2, 3 2.9 (2005=2.1) -244- Media Institute of Southern Africa