0DODZL ,QWURGXFWLRQ To a large extent, 2012 will go down the annals of media history as a year Malawi experienced change without transformation. Two presidents, namely Bingu wa Mutharika and Joyce Banda, greatly influenced the national media landscape with their distinct media management strategies. During the reign of Mutharika in the first quarter of 2012, free speech and media freedom were significantly limited. Malawi recorded the worst ever press freedom rankings as she dropped from position 79 in 2010/11 to 146 in 2012 . The Mutharika administration adopted anti-media legislation and clamped down on any critical and dissenting voices through threats, assaults and arrests. When President Joyce Banda assumed office in April 2012, she reversed the repressive law enacted by her predecessor and promised to improve the legal, policy and operating environment for the media. Among the most significant changes she introduced were the removal of the 16.5% Value Added Tax (VAT) on newspapers; repeal of Section 46 of the Penal Code, which empowered the Minister of Information to ban publications deemed unsuitable for the public; instruction to the Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) to issue additional broadcasting licenses; and directive to the Malawi Broadcasting Corporation (MBC) to open up programming to all political parties. She also promised to change the way press conferences were being conducted, enact an Access to Information (ATI) law, respect media freedom and freedom of expression, and repeal laws that criminalize free speech. Notwithstanding these changes and promises, the media landscape in 2012 clearly demonstrated that the more things change, the more they remain the same. The year ended with the arrest of an online journalist, Justice Mponda, for allegedly publishing ‘false news’ and insulting President Banda; and circulation of a proposed law (initially titled E-Bill and later renamed E-Transactions and Management Bill), which most media practitioners contend is aimed at stifling free expression online. Overall, the fundamental structures that protect those in power from public scrutiny remain securely in place, and attempts to enact legislation on Access to Information and transform MBC from a State to public service broadcaster have stagnated at the level of rhetoric.. 0HGLD&LYLO6RFLHW\ JRYHUQPHQWUHODWLRQVKLS The relationship between the media and government was at its worst during the first quarter of 2012, with the Mutharika administration clearly taking a hard stand against human rights activists, members of the opposition political parties and independent media, which were perceived critical of Mutharika’s ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP). A cat and mouse relationship best describes this period as fear and intimidation were the order of the day. Applying an old piece of legislation, the Protected Flag, Emblems and Names Act, State House Press Office issued a State 6R7KLVLV'HPRFUDF\"