WAY FORWARD DEVELOPMENTS SINCE 2011 A model Freedom of Information Bill was shared with stakeholders - the media industry, civil society and members of the public - and presented in Parliament as a Private Member’s bill through a Member of Parliament who lost his seat in the recently held elections. It was presented in Parliament and generated a great deal of interest. However, the ruling party Members of Parliament who are in the majority voted against the bill. They argued that the limitations in the draft Bill were “not enough.” MISA is waiting for the next Parliamentary sitting so that the process of engaging with the new MPs on the Model FOI can be restarted. The way forward 1. What were the developments in the media environment in the last two/three years? Positive developments • The receptivity of the courts to protect and uphold the rights of citizens. • The growth of the opposition – there are now 20 opposition MPs in the newly appointed Parliament. The calibre of MPs has improved and there are more intellectually grounded people in Parliament. • There has been greater unity in the media. Government was trying to divide the media and get them to take positions, but instead, the media decided to support each other. • There is a sense of activism across the spectrum of media, especially social media Negative developments • The Enactment of the Broadcasting Regulation – the Communications Regulatory Act (BOCRA, 2012). • The tendency of media organisations to break stories that have not been checked – there is pressure to break stories because of the competition. • The prosecution of journalists under archaic laws, and the willingness of the Executive to use them. The Executive was a bit more circumspect. However the President announced that government would financially support Cabinet Ministers and senior government officials’ lawsuits against the media. • Media houses are losing senior and experienced staff to the corporate sector. • Deepening tension between the President and the media. • The harassment and intimidation of journalists by the DIS. AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER Botswana 2014 63