SECTOR 2 2.12 Government does not use its power over the placement of advertisements as a means to interfere with editorial content According to panellists, the government uses its power over the placement of advertising to interfere with editorial content. The Media Services Act puts the District of Information Services (DIS) in charge of government advertising. Panellists said this creates a conflict of interest, as the DIS is also responsible for coordinating government information, holding press conferences on behalf of the government and suspending newspapers. Panellists asserted that it is without a doubt that government advertising goes primarily to state-owned news media and hardly to those critical of the government – such as newspapers with opposition leanings. Seeing the conduct of the government, panellists said private advertisers have also grown reluctant to place advertisements in critical news outlets. Scores: Individual scores23: 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: Score of previous years: ✓ ✓✓✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓✓✓ ✓ ✓ 3.0 2006: 2.4; 2008: 2; 2010: 2.1; 2012: 2.2; 2015: 1.6 2.13 The size of the advertising market can support a diversity of media outlets News media organisations complain that they do not get enough advertising to sustain their operations. Panellists observed that indeed, the advertising market had shrunk over the years to only a handful of advertisers; notably the telecommunications, brewery and banking companies. From discussions, it emerged that two main factors have shaped the advertising market in Tanzania. Firstly, the government controls a significant share of advertisement spending which is channelled selectively to state-owned and pro-government private press. Secondly, several leading advertisers of the past now run their news media outlets and use that status as media owners to advertise only with their own outlets. This practice has not only constricted the market, but also led to inequalities in the distribution of advertising revenue throughout the industry. One panellist said news media also lacked the capacity to attract advertising, stating that: 35 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER TANZANIA 2019