SECTOR 4 Factors cited that have led to the decline in the quality of news reporting include corruption in the media, “the poor calibre of journalists”, lack of training desks and the dearth of skills in newsrooms. “The flight of skills in 2002-2008 really affected media industry. All things being equal, quality in the newsroom is not what it should be. You can have a journalist with a Masters in Media Studies, who can’t construct a basic sentence. 95% of those in the newsroom are like this.” Panellists agreed that the IMPI process was, in itself, an indicator that something needed to be done with regards to the quality of media reporting. Scores: Individual scores: 1 Country does not meet indicator 2 Country meets only a few aspects of indicator 3 Country meets some aspects of indicator 4 Country meets most aspects of indicator 5 Country meets all aspects of the indicator Average score: 2.5 (2012 = 2.4; 2010 = 2.0; 2008 = 2.1; 2006 = 2.3) 4.2 The media follow voluntary codes of professional standards, which are enforced by independent/nonstatutory bodies that deal with complaints from the public. There is a Voluntary Media Council (VMCZ), but not all media houses subscribe to its code, and the law does not compel public media to be part of a voluntary code, although section 249(1)(d) of the constitution, which speaks to the functions of the Media Information Commission (which replaces Zimbabwe Media Commission ) states that one of the functions of the ZMC should be “to encourage the formulation of codes of conduct for persons employed in the media and, where no such code exists, to formulate and enforce one.” Few panellists supported the fact that that ZMC provides for a statutory code. It was noted that the ZMC had previously attempted to create a code, but did not get enough buy-in from the media and civil society. In the past, BAZ was “enjoined to work on a code of conduct”. AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER ZIMBABWE 2015 53