SECTOR 4 managed to take complaints to the state media and although there has been no official action taken there is an acknowledgement by senior editors of the issues raised. With the establishment of a state-controlled Zimbabwe Media Commission which took office in February 2010 Zimbabwe now has a dual regulatory mechanism. The ZMC has not yet developed a professional code of conduct and so there is no procedure in place to handle complaints around media content. Media organisations and, obviously, the VMCZ are opposed to the ZMC. Initially the constitutional amendment that provided for state regulation was seen as a transitional measure only. In fact, however, commissioners have been appointed until 2015, well beyond the time frame set for the development of a new constitution and fresh elections. 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: 2.8 (2008: 1.7 ; 2006:1.1) 4.2 The standard of reporting follows the basic principles of accuracy and fairness. Analysis: Many journalists and editors in Zimbabwe seem to be operating in the manner of political party activists: if they work for state publications they push the ZANU PF line while those working for online or private media generally lean towards the MDC. Journalists are tailoring stories to fit the agenda of their media organisation because they have to portray a certain picture for a story to be accepted. Readers who want to get an accurate picture of events or issues will thus need to read the stories on the same subject in both the state and the privately owned media. AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER ZIMBABWE 2010 59