SECTOR 3 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: 1.5 (2012 = n/a; 2010 = n/a; 2008 = n/a; 2006 = n/a) 3.6 The state/public broadcaster is adequately funded in a manner that protects it from political interference through its budget and from commercial pressure. As noted in Indicator 3.5, the state broadcaster is not protected from political interference, and its funding structure – whether adequate or not – does not ensure its editorial independence. Funding for the operations of the state broadcaster comes directly from the Ministry of Communications, and from part of the Ministry’s annual budget. Salaries of staff at Lesotho TV and Radio, for example, are paid from the Ministry’s payroll. For election coverage, however, the Independent Electoral Commission allocates a certain amount of funding for broadcast coverage. Requests are made directly to the Ministry of Communications in instances where the state broadcaster needs additional funding for special programmes. Income to the broadcaster is not supplemented with licence fees for radio or TV; and while it does source advertising, the broadcaster “does not really pursue commercial advertising because it doesn’t have commercial pressure.” AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER Lesotho 2015 47