STATE OF THE MEDIA IN ZAMBIA 1.0 Introduction The State of the Media in Zambia is a quarterly report based on the assessment of events touching on the environment under which the media operated during the period under review. The report summarises the conditions under which the media houses and media practitioners operated, but more specifically in respect of the economic, technological, legal and political environments as well as any other pertinent major issues that affect the media industry in Zambia. In addition, the report reflects the main topical national issues that arose during the period and how the media reported these in its role of ensuring that the public was fully informed. The quarterly report is prepared by the Media Institute of Southern Africa, Zambia Chapter (MISA Zambia). The report helps cumulatively to document major developments in the media industry in Zambia and to flag off any negative trends requiring remedial measures by both MISA Zambia and other major stakeholders. 2.0 Methodology The fourth quarterly report of the State of the Media in Zambia is essentially based on careful review and analysis of available archival material such a back issues of newspapers, reports, press statements and MISA Zambia media alerts published during the period under review. This approach minimised the likelihood of individuals trying to justify or explain actions and events that had taken place because the incidents – positive or negative - had already been documented. 3.0 Executive Summary of Media Events during the Fourth Quarter During the period under review the print media, prominently the Times of Zambia, Zambia Daily Mail, The Mast and the Daily Nation devoted considerable space to publish articles on the 2018 National Budget, and events in the neighbouring Zimbabwe where the soldiers facilitated a smooth change in that country’s president during the course of November. It was also noticeable during the period under review that most newspapers adopted the manner of using the front page to publicise headlines of major articles contained in the inside pages. The plausible explanation is that the public have the tendency of quickly reading major stories published on the front without paying for the newspaper! 5