Table of Contents ACRONYMS II 1. Introduction 1 2 Media Audience Survey Objectives 2 3. Methodology of the Study 3 3.1 Conceptual approach: Media in a reconfigured political economy and the impact of COVID-19 3 3.2 Study Areas and Participants 5 4. Findings from the Study 6 4.1 Current media structures — accessing media in Zimbabwe 6 (a) Radio 6 (b) Television 13 (c) Print 16 (d) New media 20 d(i) WhatsApp 23 d(ii) Facebook 24 d(iii) Instagram 24 d(iv) X, formerly Twitter 24 d(v) TikTok 25 (e) Oral/Word of Mouth 25 4.2 Dominant media themes and consumption habits 4.3 Locating the media audiences – online and offline access 23 to media 28 4.4 A closer analysis of audience profile and their media preferences and needs 30 4.5 Issues of concern — impediments to accessing media 31 4.5.1 Structural issues 31 4.5.2 Access to public information 31 4.5.3 Trust in the media sources 32 5. Recommendations 33 6. Conclusion 34