SECTOR 2 Scores: Individual scores: 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: 5.0 (2005 = 4.5; 2007 = 4.8; 2009 = 3.0; 2011 = 4.8) 2.3 The editorial independence of print media published by a public authority is protected adequately against undue political interference. “There is a perception of political interference.” For instance, Editors from government media houses are restricted from membership to the Botswana National Editors Forum. “We have heard not necessarily of interference, but of journalists being transferred from one (government) department to another when they may have displayed resistance to interference with their work” “The last time I was quoted by the Daily News was a long time ago. Maybe what I have to say is not considered newsworthy. But it begs a lot of questions, that what we say, is always in the private media on a daily basis but does not find space in the state newspapers.” “We can only go on with what our colleagues tell us but there was a time when the Minister of Communications was apparently editing the Daily News. He would go through the stories and edit them before they were published.” AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER Botswana 2014 31