SECTOR 4 4.6 Journalists and editors do not practice self-censorship in the private broadcasting and print media. Self-censorship by private sector journalists and editors does happen in South Africa, although it is quite rare. Self-censorship is more common with regards to the state broadcaster, the SABC, as mentioned previously, as there is fear and intimidation among journalists. “Sometimes journalists censor themselves so as not to be seen to have opinions which clash with those of their peers.” Primedia employees don’t have the owners “sitting on their necks and telling them what to do”. But there have been instances where ‘newsmakers’, prominent people, call the company’s senior executive directly instead of the newsroom, in an attempt to get their comment on a certain topic broadcast. In these instances, they are immediately told to contact the journalists or producers directly working on those stories. “At one of the big newspaper groups, a former editor of a weekend newspaper regularly gives his views on how to approach certain stories, but this is not necessarily sinister: he just can’t let go.” In some publications, advertorial is not always clearly marked and is even made, sometimes, to look like editorial, by use of the same fonts, thus misleading readers. True Love magazine, for example, is currently overrun with advertising and publishes much fewer actual stories than in the past. 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: 68 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER SOUTH AFRICA 2013 3.8 (2010: 2.9; 2008: 2.2; 2006: 2.3)