or to put a positive spin on it. Some journalists demand to be paid in exchange for silence.
Journalists are often given freebies, many of which are quite obviously bribes - for example,
an excessive E1,000 for “lunch money”. “They (bribers) may not expect results immediately,
but they’ll want it eventually.”
SCORES:
Individual scores:
Average score:

4.9

3, 3, 3, 2, 3, 3, 3, 2
2.8
(2005=1.4)

Training facilities offer formal qualification programmes for
journalists as well as opportunities to upgrade their skills.

ANALYSIS:
The little journalism training available in Swaziland is steadily being improved upon. The 3-year
diploma offered by the University of Swaziland is soon to be upgraded to a 4-year degree. MISA
Swaziland has partnered with the South African Institute for the Advancement of Journalism
(IAJ) to deliver courses in Swaziland and enrolments for the first course are currently being
sought. MISA Swaziland has also launched a programme with the Nordic-SADC Journalism
Centre (NSJ) to provide in-house training at the media houses.
A major obstacle to training working journalists is finding the means to balance study and work
simultaneously as media owners are often reluctant to release staff for extended periods.
SCORES:
Individual scores:
Average score:

4, 4, 3, 4, 4, 4, 2, 5
3.8
(2005=1.9)

4.10 Journalists and other media practitioners are organised in
trade unions and/or other professional associations.
ANALYSIS:
The Media Workers Union of Swaziland (MWUS) was launched in 2006 to replace the defunct Swaziland Media Publishers and Allied Workers Union (SMEPAW). The union has a
membership of over 270.
Some media practitioners are also members of Swaziland National Association of Journalists
(SNAJ), MISA Swaziland and Gender and Media Swaziland (GEMSWA),
SCORES:
Individual scores:
Average score:

3, 3, 4, 4, 4, 4, 3, 4
3.6
(2005=3.0)

Overall score for sector 4:

2.7 (2005 = 2.0)

Overall country score for 2007

So This Is Democracy? 2007

2.3 (2005 = 2.0)

-247-

Media Institute of Southern Africa

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