SECTOR 1 1.6 Entry into and practice of the journalistic profession is not restricted by law. Journalists are not required to be registered or accredited in order to work in Malawi, and as such entry into the profession is legally unrestricted. “Anyone can wake up and work as a journalist.” The self-regulatory Media Council of Malawi (MCM) issued press cards in the past to permanent employees and freelance journalists, but the body had been dormant for about two years by August 2012, following financial difficulties. This informal process was done in conjunction with media houses and the Ministry of Information. “These press cards helped to protect the public from unscrupulous people posing as journalists in order to get a free lunch or extort money from members of the public. They also helped to protect the profession.” 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: 4.9 (2010 = 4.6; 2008 = 4.7; 2006 = 5.0) 1.7 Confidential sources of information are protected by law and/or the courts. There are no laws in Malawi that protect confidential sources of information. However, in the past the courts have protected the media from revealing their sources. In 2010, the privately owned Zodiak radio station was taken to court after refusing to reveal a source of one of their stories deemed a threat to public security. The judge ruled in the station’s favour and Zodiak subsequently won the case the following year. 18 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER MALAWI 2012