Malawi 4.6 Journalists and editors do not practise self-censorship. ANALYSIS: Journalists and editors want the world to believe that they guard their editorial independence jealously. But with Malawi being a small country, self-censorship is evident in many forms: journalists want to protect themselves against making enemies in the community; they act in the interests of the owner/employer; they decide in line with a tacit understanding of what constitutes ‘national interest’; they accept some form of gratification; they fear the loss of advertisements or law suits. Most media in Malawi are owned by families with political ties. It is self-evident that the wishes of these owners reign supreme and exert pressure on journalists to censor themselves in the interest of these families. SCORES: Individual scores: 3, 3, 3, 2, 1, 2, 2, 2, 3 Average score: 2.3 4.7 Owners of private media do not interfere with editorial independence. ANALYSIS: Some of the owners of media houses are former or active journalists who take a keen editorial interest in their enterprises. Out of habit, as much as out of necessity, they find themselves interfering in the editorial decision-making of their outlets. Where family members sit on the board of a media company, they ensure that family interests not least regarding their political ties African Media Barometer - Malawi 2006 33