SECTOR 2 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: 2.6 (2008 = 4.7; 2006 = 3.0) 2.6 Government promotes a diverse media landscape with economically viable and independent media outlets. The Media Development and Diversity Agency (MDDA) mentioned under indicator 2.1 is tasked with promoting diversity in the media sector. It has nine board members – six appointed by the President on the recommendation of Parliament after a public nomination process, and the other three selected by the funders (one each representing broadcasting, print media and government). The MDDA Act specifies that the recipients of funding are community and small commercial media. According to the act funding is provided through grants as well as loans, but up to now the MDDA has not developed a loan mechanism. There are discussions currently under way on how MDDA funds can be made more accessible. As the act allows for a certain percentage of the funding to be allocated to training, the agency will now provide a mentor if applicants need help with developing their project proposals according to the regulations. The MDDA broadly supports the government’s developmental thrust. When the president declared a number of towns “developmental nodes” where all government services should be concentrated, the agency decided that in the absence of proposals from those towns, they would go and stimulate projects themselves – creating the perception that the MDDA approves proposals on the basis of “presidential nodal patronage”. AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER SOUTH AFRICA 2010 33