SECTOR 4

In the print media, the number of pages in a publication has been decreased
because of Covid. Revenue at these publications has been impacted negatively.
In the private media, with fewer regulations and structures, it was easier to dismiss
staff who were not required and to encourage people to work from home. Some
institutions also initiated ‘compulsory leave days’ during the pandemic.
There is also sexual harassment among young female journalists, especially
private media institutions. You will be at the whim of the owner/supervisor, and
if you refuse sexual favours, you can be fired. However, it was sometimes claimed
the sexual harassment comes from the other side as well, with female journalists
asking a male manager to buy them items of clothing, etc.
The fact that radio presenters can now also be seen online through studio
cameras has also opened them up to online harassment and cyber-bullying.

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:
Score of previous years:

4.4

✓✓✓✓

✓✓
✓✓

✓✓

✓✓

2.2
2017 = 1.9

Journalists and other media practitioners are
organised in trade unions and/or professional
associations, which effectively represent their
interests
The Zambia Union of Broadcasters and Other Information Disseminators (ZUBID)
represents public broadcast media workers in the country.
Private media workers are not involved – they don’t have contracts, and the
owners are not willing to accept union membership. “If a person talks to a union,
the next day they will be fired.”
Media Owners Association of Zambia (MOAZ) represents the interests of media
owners.
Journalists also belong to professional associations such as MISA Zambia, as
well as the Zambia Bloggers Network (ZBN), the Press Association of Zambia
(PAZA) and the Zambia Union of Journalists (ZUJ), which draws its membership
from public print and broadcast media. The Zambia Media Women’s Association

AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER ZAMBIA 2021

43

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