%RWVZDQD the Village Magistrate Court in Gaborone. Sadly, cases like Mpaetona’s are common but remain unreported. Even sadder is that sometimes the presence of police officers at the courts doesn’t always mean journalists are safe, as in most instances the police prefer to watch photographers being beaten than offer them sanctuary. On another note, the Chapter has lamented the huge sums of money which the media are expected to pay towards defamation suits. In early 2012, the High Court ruled and ordered former Yarona FM Sports Presenter, Chilliboy Rakgare, and the station to pay Phillip Makgalemele P250, 000 (approximately US$30, 500) in damages for defamation. In the previous years, notably 2010, the Sunday Standard newspaper was asked to pay the P400, 000 (approximately US$49, 000) in damages to the then minister of Minerals, Charles Tibone, but ended up paying P250, 000 (approximately US$30, 500) after appeal. Seemingly, it appears, sadly, that this is the precedence that has been set. 'HYHORSPHQWRISULQWDQG EURDGFDVWPHGLD The year 2012 went down with all the players in the newspaper industry being active. Although many editors and managers talked gravely about business not doing well, MISA-Botswana did not record any major newspaper collapses. The industry still boasts of the Dikgang Group (Mmegi, Monitor, The Botswana Guardian and Midweek Sun), Tsodilo Services Group (Sunday Stand- 6R7KLVLV'HPRFUDF\" tions. As a result, it suddenly becomes an awkwardly complex issue when an editor finds himself or herself in such a situation. MISA-Botswana has been, therefore, requested to look into the issue for future reference. As John Keane (2011) put it: “Mediacracy has been gaining ground for sometime in virtually all democracies. ard and The Telegraph), News Company Botswana (The Botswana Gazette and Lapologa magazine), The Echo, The Voice, and the Weekend Post. One newcomer was registered in the form of a broadsheet (The Patriot on Sunday). This has taken the number of private newspapers to 11, with the state owning its flagship, Daily News. The broadcast media still has no additions, with the Botswana government dominating the airwaves with 2 radio stations, (Radio Botswana and RB2), and one television, the BTV. Other players include, Yarona FM, Gabz FM, and Duma FM. &RQFOXVLRQ At its 2012 Annual General Meeting, MISA-Botswana learnt that in most of the media houses, editors are notoriously crippled to make apt decisions in newsrooms because of ownership. Media houses could have professional staff but at the end of the day, if the source of finance of the media house is threatened in some way by certain reports, it unfortunately becomes an ugly business. The fact is that politicians own some of our newspapers and radio sta-