R epresented in 11 SADC countries, MISA has access to resources, data and experts across the region, allowing us to explore media freedom and freedom of expression issues in a uniquely southern African context. In addition to our daily monitoring and publication of media violation alerts, MISA also conducted several targeted research projects in 2013 – including three studies that are part of ongoing resources produced by MISA. Most Open and Secretive Public Institutions in Southern Africa In May 2013, MISA launched its annual research study to assess the Most Open and Secretive Public Institutions in Southern Africa for the fourth consecutive year. We conducted the research in seven countries: Botswana; Malawi; Namibia; Swaziland; Tanzania; Zambia; and Zimbabwe. The study is an important part of MISA’s campaign for access to information and aims to measure how open public institutions are in southern Africa. Swaziland Revenue Authority customer service manager, Riccardo Kruger, accepting the award for most open public institution in Swaziland. Photo: MISA Swaziland images, 2013. Each year, MISA Chapter offices select eight to 10 government or public institutions in their countries and conduct qualitative and quantitative research to assess their level of transparency. The research includes critiquing websites for usefulness and relevance and making written and oral requests for information under the guise of members of the general public seeking information for their studies. When the research is complete, MISA awards a Golden Key Award to the ‘Most Open Public Institution’ and a Golden Padlock Award to the ‘Most Secretive Public Institution’. The research, which forms an important part of MISA’s campaign for access to information (ATI) in the region, helps us assess how open SADC public institutions are. MISA Chapters released the research reports on September 28, 2013 – International Right to Know Day. The reports exposed the lack of transparency and willingness on the part of public institutions to provide information to the public. In Botswana, for example, a country reputed to be one of the most democratic in Africa, the researchers could not establish a single institution considered open enough to ‘deserve’ the award. So This Is Democracy? State of Media Freedom in southern Africa Each year, MISA produces So This Is Democracy?: State of media freedom in Southern Africa, based on daily monitoring and other research and analysis gathered in the 11 Southern Africa Development Community (SADC) countries where MISA operates. The 2013 edition was our 20th edition and the disturbing but relevant theme was ‘media behind bars’, due to the many cases MISA recorded in 2013 of authorities arresting journalists, often without a clear reason and then detaining them, interrogating them, and confiscating their equipment and materials. The report was released on World Press Freedom Day 2014 and continues to be one of MISA’s flag19