SECTOR 4 Stories are tailor-made to fit in with the thinking and ideology of the media house concerned. Freelance journalists go “editor shopping” – they find out what aspect of stories certain editors like and will start producing copy along those lines. State media journalists get access to stories that, from their experience, the state media will not carry in their entirety or accurately, so they rewrite them with the angle they know the private media will go with and offer them to one of these outlets instead. However, since the “inclusive government” was formed in February 2009 the climate seems to be getting more relaxed, with some of the fear appearing to be unfounded. It is also easier now to approach government ministers and other officials for comment. 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: 2.0 (2008: 1.4 ; 2006:1.7) 4.6 Owners of established mainstream private media do not interfere with editorial independence. Analysis: Media owners are business people. They look at numbers. The owner of The Zimbabwe Standard and The Zimbabwe Independent may enquire why the circulation figures are down and ask about other aspects of running the business but he does not interfere in editorial content. These two papers often have different political stances, without the owner putting pressure on any of his editors regarding the publishing or non-publishing of a story. AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER ZIMBABWE 2010 63