SECTOR 4 • Increasing self-censorship in newsrooms • Lack of complaints to the Independent Media Council • Journalists’ working conditions continuing to be poor • Rapid turnover of staff, robbing newsrooms of experience and institutional memory Activities needed over the next few years: • To put up a determined fight against the retrogressive legal framework and a number of even more suppressive bills being planned, media bodies should join hands to lobby and also submit researched memoranda to Parliament. • To broaden and intensify advocacy work. At least two options are possible: – Explore the idea of a media platform to bring together senior journalists, media owners, and possibly some government representatives. – Strengthen the lobbying power of journalists rather than conflating their interests with those of already powerful government officials and media owners. 72 • In any case, there is need for an efficient secretariat to coordinate activities. • Initiate a consistent broadcasting reform campaign to establish an independent broadcasting regulator and to transform the Uganda Broadcasting Corporation into a truly public broadcaster. • The Independent Media Council should involve media owners and get their buy-in, so that they will be prepared to comply with rulings of the council and to pay subscription fees. The Council should urgently embark on a public awareness campaign to encourage the public to lodge complaints. • Do a mapping study to establish which media organisation is doing what already. • Undertake annual surveys on various media issues, for example circulation or staff turnover trends, so that there is concrete information to build on at subsequent panel meetings. AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER UGANDA 2010