State of the media report July - Dec 2022 1.0 INTRODUCTION The media plays an important role in shaping public opinion, educating citizens and promoting transparency and accountability in governance. As a gatekeeper, the media functions to relay, limit, expand and reinterpret information. It is for this reason that understanding the state of the media in Zambia is critical. This report therefore provides a comprehensive review of key phenomena that impacted media freedom for the past six months of 2022 which is July to December 2022. The report format was reviewed and will be produced biannually due to feedback from the users of the report. The previous report formats were said to have a catalogue of sub topics which impacted the depth of the report and of phenomena being brought out. This report therefore focuses on two topics that had recorded a number of incidents in the period under review and specifically is looking at “Clashes between Media and State and Political Interest”. According to Paradigm Initiative Report, (2021), in Zambia, the protection digital rights has become increasingly important in the recent years, particularly in the context of media freedom. One of the major challenge is lack of legal protection for digital rights. This has led to incidence where government has attempted to restrict online freedoms such as shutting down media platforms during the 2016 and 2021 elections respectively. In addition, there are concern about the use of cyber-crime laws to target Journalists and activists who express critical views. APC, (2022) revealed that during the afternoon on election day the internet was partially shut down and social media platforms such as WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and some VPNs and other platforms were blocked by the then government. Legal Provisions on Media Freedom The Zambia Constitution under Article 20(2) guarantees media freedom as follows: (2) Subject to the provisions of this Constitution, a law shall not make any provision that derogates from the freedom of the press. However, the same Constitution outlines limitations as below under Article 20(3) (3) Nothing contained in or done under the authority of any law shall be held inconsistent with or in contravention of this Article to the extent that the law in question makes provision(a) that is reasonably required in the interests of defence, public safety, public order, public morality or public health; or (b) that is reasonably required for the purpose of protecting the reputations, rights and freedom of other persons or the private lives of persons concerned in legal proceedings, preventing the disclosure of information received in confidence, maintaining the authority and independence of the courts, regulating educational institutions in the interests of persons receiving instruction therein, or the registration of, or regulating the technical administration or the technical operation of newspapers and other publications, telephony, telegraphs, posts, wireless, broadcasting or television; or (c) that imposes restrictions upon public officers; and except so far as that provision or, as the case may be, the thing done under the authority thereof is shown not to be reasonably justifiable in a democratic society”. (Konrad Adenauer Stiftung, 2004): Centered on the above limitations, the Zambian government has enacted various laws that establish perimeters regards the extent of media freedom for the sake of public and personal interests, security and national defense among other. Some of these laws include the Penal Code, Cyber Security and Cyber Crimes Act, State Security Act to name but a few. Digital Rights in Zambia 7