SECTOR 2 2.4 The editorial independence of print media published by a public authority is protected adequately against undue political interference. Currently, there are no state print publications, except for the government mouthpiece Boma Lathu, which used to be a monthly publication, but now appears very irregularly. Some panellists felt that it is not a propaganda tool, as it does provide some useful information about government projects. There is no protection of Boma Lathu’s editorial independence from political interference, and the Editor in Chief is the Minister of Information. The content of the now non-existent state publication, Weekly News, was all in favour of the government and included very few alternative voices, except when used negatively. “The Weekly News was totally in support of the state machinery.” 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: 1.3 (2010 = 1.4; 2008 = 1.4; 2006 = 1.6) 2.5 Adequate competition legislation/regulation seeks to prevent media concentration and monopolies. There is no legislation preventing one company or individual from owning many different media outlets, and this does occur, even across media platforms. Blantyre Newspapers, for example, owns five newspapers (The Daily Times, and the weeklies: Sunday Times, Weekend Times, Malawi News and Business Times). In July 2012, the company was awarded a commercial television licence for BNL Television. Nation Publications owns three newspapers (the weeklies, Nation on Sunday and Weekend Nation, and the fortnightly Fuko Nation). Montfort Fathers 30 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER MALAWI 2012