Botswana
PCB has been running training workshops in the work place and expects the media to be familiar with their code of ethics and the
need to carry accurate and balanced stories. Media houses themselves need to become more pro-active. They should create a culture of mentoring in their organizations and pay more attention to
training. Editors should challenge their reporters more to do their
work properly and make sure they adhere to the basic principles of
journalism.
There is very little contact between the new Department of Media
Studies of the University of Botswana and local media houses. The
first head of the department actively promoted such contacts but
the culture of interaction and cooperation has since died. This is
unfortunate because the Department can help the media reflect on
the quality of their reporting or broadcasting.
There is also no diversity of experts writing in the papers and it
seems that always the same political analysts get a chance. One of
the reasons cited was that a lot of people do not dare to come forward and express their opinion in writing.
SCORING:
Individual scores:

2, 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 2, 2

Average score:

2.1

4.3

(2005 = 2.9)

The media cover the full spectrum of events, issues and
cultures, including business/economics, cultural, local, and
investigative stories.

ANALYSIS:
Overall, newspapers try to cover more or less the full spectrum of
events and issues but there is a clear lack of in-depth and investigaAfrican Media Barometer - Botswana 2007

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Select target paragraph3