STATE OF THE MEDIA REPORT QUARTER 3. 2020 well as audio tips for teachers to ensure continued literacy instructional and professional support in the wake of COVID-1940. Such a move is a step in the right direction and adds to other initiative such as the government’s launch of a dedicated education channel for secondary school learners in the previous quarter41. This is positive use of media platforms, in keeping with the main functions of mass communication. On an equally positive note, on 26th August, ZICTA fined the three mobile service operators a total of K5.4 million for failure to adhere to the quality of service guidelines issued in the previous quarter 4243 . Such enforcement of compliance measures and guidelines by the Authority will help to improve service delivery, particularly of internet services which are vital even in media operations. Overall, the technological environment in the third quarter was stable given some of the positive developments recorded during the quarter-a marginal improvement when compared to the previous quarter which was found to be relatively stable. With regard to freedom of expression online, however, the environment remained relatively weak, particularly dented by the threats against citizens expressing dissenting views online, as well as the arbitrary application of laws such as the alleged powers of the IBA to regulate the streaming (‘broadcasting’) of content through social networks. 4.0. CONCLUSION The review in this report has shown that there has not been much change between events of the second quarter and the quarter under review. This is because the state of the media remained unstable (despite minor improvement) in view of the many observations highlighted above. The effect of the occurrences under key thematic areas cannot be overemphasised, especially in view of the critical role the media were expected to play amidst the turmoil obtaining. For example, on the socio-political front, high levels of political violence against media outlets deemed to carry dissenting views was rampant. This is a situation of concern particularly because of the chilling effect that it has on media outlets that will black out divergent views in 40 As reported by News Diggers Newspaper on 6th August, 2020. 424242 43 The fines were for call setup success rate, drop rate, HTTP download rate on 3G and HTTP successful internet log-ins, with Airtel Zambia receiving the biggest fine of K4.8 million. 41 See https://www.znbc.co.zm/news/znbc-toopen-education-channel/ 35