SECTOR 4 “Economic patronage drives self-censorship. If an NGO provides me with news, it is unlikely that I will write negatively about them. For the MBC, self-censorship is driven more by political patronage and loyalty to the ruling party.” 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: 2.9 (2010 = 2.0; 2008 = 1.9; 2006 = 2.3) 4.6 Owners of established mainstream private media do not interfere with editorial independence. When a media house has a clear editorial policy, it helps prevent owners from interfering in the editorial independence of established mainstream media. Owners and management claim to be there to provide “guidance” to editors and journalists, and they encourage reporters to get both sides of the story. Clearly it is a sensitive issue and in practice such interference exists, positively (through the provision of news tips) and negatively (by instructing editors to drop controversial stories, which may result in the loss of a big advertiser, for example). “Owners interfere to make or break people too, depending on their political and social allegiances.” The state broadcaster MBC broadcasts mostly positive government-related stories, and it is unheard of for news that is critical of the ruling party to be broadcast on these services. AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER MALAWI 2012 57