Malawi 2.9 Government promotes a political and economic environment which allows a diverse media landscape. ANALYSIS: There is no conscious effort on the side of government to promote media diversity. The de facto diverse media landscape has evolved by default. In the early nineties government removed import duties on newsprint and computers which are seen as communication tools, but not on broadcasting equipment. Publishers of print media that are registered with the Postmaster can apply for concessionary tariffs for distribution as printed matter. However, most of them prefer to do their own deliveries to selling points or to subscribers who pay directly to the publisher. SCORES: Individual scores: 3, 4, 5, 4, 4, 5, 3, 3, 3, 4 Average score: 3.8 2.10 Private media outlets operate as efficient and professional businesses. ANALYSIS: The private media’s efficiency and professionalism in business terms is hard to fathom, except to say that the prudent and the ruthless ones seem to be surviving the competition and staying in the market. At face value private media are indeed run as professional businesses. They are expected to register their businesses with the office of the Registrar General which demands a copy of audited accounts 18 African Media Barometer - Malawi 2006