SECTOR 4

or who present subject matter that is irrelevant. There is need for engagement
between editors and trainers to ensure a more coordinated approach to training.

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:

2.7 (2005 = 4.0; 2007 = 3.8;
2009 =3.2; 2011 = 2.3)

4.8 Equal opportunities regardless of race or ethnicity,
social group, gender/sex, religion, disabilities and age
are promoted in media houses.
Media houses in Botswana do not have affirmative action policies on race, religion
or any other aspect of labour diversity. People with disabilities can’t access media
offices and most buildings are inaccessible. Disabled people who do work in the
media are often placed in other departments and not in the newsroom.
While most houses have gender mainstreaming policies, many of them are
not implementing the requirements of these policies. Gender Links carried out
a gender mainstreaming strategy in a number of newsrooms, which they will
review on an annual basis.
An interesting development is the increase in good female journalists as opposed
to male. “My top investigative journalist is a woman. There was no effort
whatsoever.... there was no policy to promote that. I think it’s something that has
happened incidentally.”
While ethnicity is not a critical issue in Botswana, panellists felt that people
with accents from certain parts of the country are being discriminated against,
particularly in radio. “There is a perception in Botswana that there is a certain
voice that should be out there, I don’t know whether it’s necessarily a good thing
but the perception is there.”

AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER Botswana 2014

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