STATE OF THE MEDIA IN ZAMBIA STATE OF THE MEDIA IN ZAMBIA ZUJ President Shamaoma Musonda said there has been no commitment to liquidate the arrears despite the Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) helping out last year. “Right now, the arears stand at six months and promises have not been actualized, leaving employees in suspense and highly demotivated. This situation is causing industrial unrest with the demoralized staff who have over the years given their best to the institution,” Musonda said. The Times of Zambia may be analysed from two angles. The first angle may relate to the aspect of mismanagement of the institution, while another angle maybe the non-payment of the debt owed to the newspaper by advertisers who among them is government. Whichever the case, there is an urgent need to liquidate the debt owed to employees in order to keep them motivated and productive. 9.0. Conclusion There is need for journalists to work together to actualise the statutory self-regulation framework that was unanimously agreed upon at the media regulation indaba in Lusaka. Statutory-self regulation of the media if enacted will take care of the structural aesthetics of the media such as professional standards that come with conditions of service so that there is sanity in the media sector. It is important to note that the selfregulatory framework has totally failed in pursuit for a sanitisation of the media in Zambia. 10.0. Recommendations Based on the information made available in the report, the following are the recommendations: There is need for IBA and government to adopt a culture of dialogue before resorting to coming up with harsh/drastic pronouncements like the mandatory submission of broadcast content every two weeks that have potential to threaten media freedoms in Zambia There is need for the media to ensure that the statutory-self regulation of the media agreed upon at the media regulation indaba in Lusaka, comes to a conclusive end. There is need to increase news coverage relating to ATI to increase advocacy around the enactment of the Bill into law. There is need for the media to continue upholding high standards of professionalism. 32