SECTOR 4 Safety continues to be an issue for working journalists, and most private media houses have no protective mechanisms, and no insurance with regard to safety. Journalists are also not given protective gear when covering potentially violent conditions, as was the case with an Informative reporter who was injured when shot with rubber bullets during a strike in 2008/9. However, legal protection is generally provided at media houses. 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: 1.9 (2012 = 1.6; 2010 = 2.4; 2008 = n/a; 2006 = n/a) 4.4 Journalists and other media practitioners are organised in trade unions and/or professional associations, which effectively represent their interests. There are a handful of professional associations into which media practitioners have organised themselves, but the high level of fragmentation between media houses has compromised the effectiveness of these associations. The Journalists Association of Lesotho (JAL), which was set up in 2004 and is affiliated to the Southern African Journalists Association, is no longer effective due to infighting for positions and resources, as well as frustrated membership due to the lack of financial accountability and alleged corrupt activity. The association had been set up to represent media practitioners’ interests. At one point, MISA was hosting the trouble-filled organisation, but JAL moved out of the office and its current status is unknown. Panellists felt that MISA could step in to provide some leadership in reviving JAL and getting it back on track. Aside from the infighting, the failure of JAL and the lack of cohesion among media practitioners can also be blamed on the polarisation of media houses along political party lines. 56 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER Lesotho 2015