STATE OF THE MEDIA IN ZAMBIA STATE OF THE MEDIA IN ZAMBIA IBA compelling all broadcast media to submit recordings of programmes every fortnight, and the harassment and intimidation of Power FM and Radio Maria Zambia in Kabwe and Chipata respectively. In the period under review, press freedom and freedom of expression were under threat with cadres attacking radio stations by storming into studios. There were also threats by government officials on journalists. Another significant issue recorded in the period under review was the continued shelving of the Access to Information Bill that has been on the cards for the past 17years. It should be noted that the second quarter of the year 2019 also scored some victories. Arguably one of the biggest news received during the period under review was the pronouncement by the Permanent Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services that public media must accord a chance to opposition political parties to air their views on their platforms. 4.0 Findings – Overview The media in the period under review was dominated by debates around the unanimous decision by journalists to adopt a statutory self-regulatory framework for the media. The decision was arrived at after a two-day workshop attended by over 200 journalists from across Zambia. Also making news in the period under review was the news of mandatory submission of broadcast content every two weeks. The directive was issued by IBA who called upon broadcast media to comply with the instructions. The directive was however condemned by sections of society based on two issues: the cost attached and the threat to media freedom that the move would impose. 4.1 Policy and Statutory Framework 4.1.1. Self-Regulation of the media The media in the period under review was dominated by debates around the statutory self-media regulation. The media coverage was centred around debates before, during and after the media regulation insaka that 5