SECTOR 1 There are many media houses who have initiated internal ID cards to prevent nonmedia practitioners from posing as journalists operating under their titles. 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: 4.7 (2010 = 4.2; 2008 = 2.9; 2006 = 2.4) 1.7 Confidential sources of information are protected by law and/or the courts. There are no laws protecting sources, so journalists can be forced to reveal their informants. In a country like Lesotho where there are numerous defamation cases, journalists are often asked to reveal their sources. Keeping sources confidential is an individual choice based on ethical and professional obligation. In fact, if the court chooses, it can force a journalist to reveal his or her source through Section 9 of the Official Secrets Act, (No. 36 of 1967), which states that it is “unlawful for a person not to disclose information which he or she has and knows or believes to be of material assistance in preventing any subversive activity or for securing the apprehension, prosecution or conviction of a person for an offence involving the commission, preparation or instigation of such subversive activity. A person found guilty of these offences may be fined or imprisoned for up to twenty years.” 20 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER LESOTHO 2012