0DODZL The print media market is already small due to low literacy levels as well as limited disposable incomes among most Malawians, who remain predominantly rural and remote. The current economic situation is in no doubt impeding growth in the sector which as noted in the 2011 edition of ‘So This is Democracy?’ is already ‘shrinking as existing customers are switching to online media as a source of ‘free’ news and information. Many mainstream print media organisations run an online version of the print publication, but such outlays do not offer much return on investment.’ &RQFOXVLRQ Without a doubt, 2012 has ushered Malawi into global history as the second country on the continent to have a female Head of State, who initiated changes and reforms attracting international praise and admiration. President Banda repealed the repressive amendment to Section 46 of the Penal Code, flexed her muscles at MACRA for more players to enter the broadcasting market, removed VAT on newspapers and promised to open up MBC, enact an ATI law and respect media freedom and freedom of expression as well as further 6R7KLVLV'HPRFUDF\" repeal laws that criminalize free speech, all commendable and indispensable in a democracy. These initiatives and their implementation, however, largely depend on the goodwill of president Banda and have not been supported by fundamental structural changes on the ground. The fundamental structures that protect those in power, through selective application of laws to suppress free speech, remain securely in place. The most notorious being the Protected Flag, Names and Emblems Act, which was used by the colonialists, Dr Kamuzu Banda, Dr Bakili Muluzi, and most recently Bingu wa Mutharika and Joyce Banda. Such laws continue to be used despite being inconsistent with the country’s democratic order. In addition, MBC continues to be a propaganda tool for the ruling party and nothing can stop MACRA from once again ‘sitting’ on license applications if such an initiative is not supported by a revisit of the Communications Act. If the experiences and developments in the media in 2012 are adequate to go by, there is merit in concluding that the more things change, the more they stay the same. Superficial change without structural transformation explains why Malawi still witnessed threats and arrests