THE WAY FORWARD 1. What were the developments in the media environment in the last three/four years? Positive Developments • A section of the penal code has been scrapped, thus doing away with criminal defamation. • The adoption of social media as platforms for deliberation and sources of information. • Lesotho now has a printing press – a first for the country. This has lessened the stress of paying the huge customs fees associated with printing outside the country (specifically in South Africa). • Media diversity has increased. Three community radio stations have opened since the last AMB in 2015. Two newspapers have entered the market, The Nation and Newsday. • There has been a significant increase in the number of qualified journalists. • There is increased tolerance in the public/state media, especially on radio. Critics, the opposition and CSOs are now interviewed. Negative Developments 2. • The Media Policy has still not been adopted. • In the last three years, media sensationalism has increased. • The demise of the Broadcasting Disputes Resolution Panel, which, although still in existence, has been questioned for its lack of independence given that it falls directly under the LCA. • Media have allowed themselves to become tools for political parties. • The polarisation of the LCA and its sub-units. • The lack of donor funding for media programmes. What kind of activities are needed over the next three/four years? • The revival of MISA-Lesotho, the unions and other key media professional bodies. The trade union can be housed within an existing organisation for at least two or three years to give it time to grow and become effective. • The mobilisation of funds for local media organisations in the wake of the withdrawal of donor funding. • The spearheading of media legal reform processes and the advocating for a strong self-regulatory media. • Awarding journalists who excel to encourage good practices and excellence in the media. The panel discussion took place at the Roma Trading Post Lodge on 2-4 November 2018. 53 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER LESOTHO 2018