Still, there appears to be no real political will on the part of government to help create a diverse media landscape. It has rejected media representations to reduce duty on newsprint and other consumables for the print media sector as well as import duties for broadcasting equipment. The government’s wavering stance on the IBA and ZNBC Acts is seen as further proof of this lack of political will. SCORES: Individual scores: Average score: 2.10 1, 1, 3, 2, 3, 2, 2, 1, 2, 1 1.8 (2005 = 1.5) Private media outlets operate as efficient and professional businesses. ANALYSIS: One view is that only The Post newspaper and the commercial radio station Phoenix are operating in line with sound business practices. The other view is that even the smaller, upcoming newspapers are efficient businesses, seeing that they continue to publish even though they appear irregularly - they must be doing something right. SCORES: Individual scores: Average score: 4, 2, 3, 2, 3, 2, 2, 3, 2, 3 2.6 (2005 = 2.0) 2.11 State print media are not subsidised with taxpayers’ money. ANALYSIS: Neither the Zambia Daily Mail nor the Times of Zambia receive a regular subsidy from government. The government does, however, occasionally source donor funding for certain projects such as the recent purchase of ten vehicles with the help of China. Occasionally, government also assists in the settlement of financial disputes involving the papers, as it did in 2005 when it stepped in to clear a newsprint debt of about K2 billion for the Zambia Daily Mail. SCORES: Individual scores: Average score: 2, 5, 2, 5, 4, 2, 3, 4, 4, 3 3.4 (2005 = 2.5) 2.12 Government does not use its power over the placement of advertisement as a means to interfere with media content. ANALYSIS: There is a strong perception that government, being the biggest advertiser, does use its power over the placement of advertisements to favour certain publications over others. An unnamed So This Is Democracy? 2007 -260- Media Institute of Southern Africa