n 2005 - Raymond Louw Louw holds numerous positions in the media. He is the Editor and Publisher of Southern Africa Report, a weekly current affairs briefing. He further acts as the Africa consultant for the World Press Freedom Committee, is a council member of the South African National Editors’ Forum and the Freedom of Expression Institute. Louw is a general consultant on media, politics and governmental affairs. He is actively campaigning, on behalf of several organisations, for the recognition of a free media in the New Economic Partnership for African Development (Nepad) African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM). He has made several interventions on behalf of endangered journalists and was successful in securing the release of at least two journalists, Pius Njawe (Cameroon,1998) and Ali Lamrabet (Morocco, 2004) who were detained under ‘insult’ laws. Louw continues to make substantial contribution to media freedom in SADC and Africa. n 2006 - Alaudin Osman Osman has had a long career as a media personality and media leader. He was among the media pioneers involved in crafting the Windhoek Declaration on Promoting an Independent and Pluralistic African Press in 1991. Osman has had an illustrious career on both sides of the divide. He served as press secretary to the head of state during which time he improved relations between state house and the media. In a sometimes volatile media environment especially when the then ruling party youths were hostile towards journalists Osman often stepped in to diffuse tense situations and explain the role of the media in a democracy. At present he is challenging the government of Malawi over the Protected Names Emblems Flags and Places Act which makes it unlawful to undertake any act that may bring the presidency in disrepute. Whilst a decision is awaited this particular case is of great interest for media freedom and freedom of expression activists. His pioneering spirit is still evident. He is the Publicity Secretary for the Malawi Editors Forum and is at the forefront of media debates in the country and the region. Unlike many private media institutes Capital Radio, which he owns, is very conscious about the development of its staff. So This Is Democracy? 2007 -286- Media Institute of Southern Africa