of journalists based on archaic laws, attempts to ‘gag’ online voices, strategic weakening of critical voices by recruiting them into senior government positions and direct calls to media managers to ‘tone’ down on criticism of public affairs management . Promises to repeal colonial laws and enact the ATI legislation have proved to be mere rhetoric. This, to a large extent, is a mere change in strategy by those in power with an aim of achieving the same objectives as their predecessors. The task for the future, based on lessons offered by 2012, is to develop strong institutions to ensure effective checks and balances rather than relying on the quality and behaviour of those in authority. This will require strong and sustained advocacy and networking to push for law reform, including repeal of archaic laws frequently abused by those in power; review of the Communications Act (1998); enactment of the ATI legislation; transformation of the MBC from State to public service broadcaster; and strengthening of media institutions – both advocacy and self-regulatory bodies, to monitor wayward journalists online and traditional media, as one way of effectively warding off attempts to statutory regulate the sector, a move already obvious with the drafting of the E-Bill. PORTUGUESE VERSION 6R7KLVLV'HPRFUDF\" ,QWURGXomR Em grande extensão o ano 2012 baixou o valor de historia de media sendo um ano em que MALAWI enfrentou mudança sem transformação. Os dois Presidentes nominalmente Bingu MUTHARIKA e Joyce BANDA, influenciaram grandemente a situação de media a nivel nacional, junto as suas diferentes maneiras de supervisionar a media. Durante os treize primeiros meses do governo de Mutharika em 2012, a liberdade de expressão e de media estava significativamente limitada. Malawi passou o pior periodo da liberdade de pressa perdendo a sua posição 79 em 2010/11 para a posição 146 em 2012. A administração de Mutharika adotou uma legislação anti media e condenou quaisquer criticas e outras falas por ameaças, os asaltos e arrestaçãos. Quando o Presidente Joyce BANDA assumiu o escritorio em Abril 2012, ela revisou a Lei que foi emitida por seu predecessor e prometeu melhorar o legal,