SECTOR 4 separate radio stations in completely different ways. In addition, there is a lot of sensationalism on the radio. ‘Radio stations are full of gossip. Presenters often fail to control people who call in [to talk shows].’ The large number of lawsuits against the media demonstrate the lack of accuracy in the media in the country. Currently, the Lesotho Times newspaper is facing three prominent lawsuits. 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: ✓✓ ✓ ✓✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 2.0 (2015: 1.8, 2012: 1.4, 2010: 3.2, 2008: 2.1, 2006: 1.2) 4.2 The media follow voluntary codes of professional standards, which are enforced by independent/ non-statutory bodies that deal with complaints from the public There is no media council or Press Ombudsman in Lesotho, nor any other independent or statutory body to arbitrate on media related complaints from the public. The media has also not yet developed a self-regulatory body that deals with such complaints. When people have complaints against the media, their only discourse is to go to the courts. It is only recently that some private media houses have started developing their own in-house codes of conduct; previously, most houses simply had house styles or editorial guidelines. A panellist shared that Radio Lesotho had codes of conduct guidelines from the BBC put up on the wall for a very long time. There are no codes of conduct in the state print media. In media broadcasting, however, the codes of conduct come from the LCA. In July 2013, the Broadcasting Disputes Resolution Panel (BDRP) was established in accordance with the Communications Act of 2012. The panel was established to resolve disputes regarding broadcast content and to develop a broadcasting code. The BDRP is a statutory body of members appointed by the Minister of Communication. 44 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER LESOTHO 2018