November 2011 and a weekend paper is MK270 (currently US$0.68) from MK240 (about US$1.46 in November 2011). This means that in United States Dollars, the prices have in real terms dropped but not in the local currency, an indication that publishers are actually operating at a loss in US Dollars as they have to meet daily increase in imports on newsprint. That said, newspapers have risen from slumber to once again embark on their rightful watchdog role. The sector was very instrumental in exposing the injustices of the Mutharika administration but relaxed when Joyce Banda assumed office. During the third and last quarter of 2012, however, the sector rediscovered its role to check government operations and managed to expose overspending at State House and unlawful dismissals of Mutharika cronies which has cost tax payers millions of Kwacha . In all fairness, despite its urban-centric approach, the print media remains a platform for critical debate and has been very instrumental in keeping the executive under check. One key trend apparent in the print media during the period under review is a move towards specialization and market segmentation. This trend started around 2005 with the launch of specialized supplements in existing outlets, especially the weekend papers. A follow up example was the launch of FeMail in Malawi News in 2006. In April 2012, Blantyre Newspapers Limited introduced a business newspaper, The Business Times, to enhance business to business communication as well as provide a platform for the private sector to discuss issues affecting the industry. This trend is likely to continue but there is need for other players to enter the market to offer competition to what Chikunkhuzeni (So This Democracy? 2011) describes as ‘an oligopoly dominated titles by Nation Publications Limited and Blantyre Newspapers Limited’, to genuinely offer Malawians a wider array of outlets to access. Attempts to introduce new publications have always been there but seem to flounder after a few editions. A new comer, The Standard newspaper, with its motto: ‘The truth is always fair,’ appeared on the market in August 2012 but disappeared from the newsstands after 2-3 editions. All in all, print media have put up a gallant fight to weather the economic storm and have forced those in power to account. The sector has not tried to match its cover price with the runaway dollar and continues to keep a watchful eye on wayward policies and officials. The Banda administration’s removal of VAT on newspapers was by far a commendable development and ought to be applauded but the rise in cost of living and the floatation of the Kwacha keep pushing both buyers and publishers into economic decline. Even though the cover price of a newspaper has gone up in Malawi Kwacha, the continued devaluation of the kwacha has actually made this increase a fallacy when looked at in dollars. Pegging the cover prize of a newspaper in US$ will effectively kill the industry as a cover prize would currently be fetching no less than MK584 (approximately US$1.50) based on the cover price of a daily newspaper as at November 2011. 6R7KLVLV'HPRFUDF\"