STATE OF THE MEDIA IN ZAMBIA STATE OF THE MEDIA IN ZAMBIA inconsistence in information access and dissemination is to enact the Access to Information Bill to grant the media and the public access to credible information. Further to this, there is an urgent need to divorce the ATI from the statutory media regulation process as the two are not related. Further, there is need for increased advocacy by stakeholders on the need to compel government to make public the contents of the ATI bill. This is important as it will allow for public scrutiny and debate. The MISA Zambia’s campaign to ensure that the journalism and media fraternity is protected must be supported by stakeholders in order to promote the protection and editorial independence of the media. Further, increased law suits and attacks on journalists by political party cadres and other government officials is worrying. This hostile environment is a recipe for making the operating environment for journalists difficult. 8.0 Recommendations Based on the information made available in this report, the following are the recommendations: There is need to increase news coverage relating to ATI to increase advocacy for its enactment. There is need for government agencies to adopt a culture of dialogue before resorting to harsh decisions like the attack on Prime TV, News Diggers and other media organisation’s journalists. There is need for the media to ensure they uphold high standards of professionalism. 35