State of the media in Southern Africa - 2003 Acknowledgements E ach year much untiring effort is spent at MISA’s national chapters and regional secretariat to ensure that this important document is published. Media freedom monitoring is MISA’s core business and will continue to form the foundation of its advocacy work aimed at creating a conducive environment for a free and independent media in southern Africa. Jeanette Minnie, author of this year’s regional overview, must be singled out for her continued support to MISA’s Media Freedom Monitoring programme. Her research last year of three years of MISA Alerts (2000-2002) has resulted in valuable information that continues to enhance the development of this programme. This research specifically had great bearing on the development and implementation of MISA’s SADC Journalists Under Fire campaign – a campaign designed to offer practical support to victims of media freedom violations because, rightly so, in many quarters the question was asked: “You’ve issued an alert, so what?” MISA’s national chapter Information and Advocacy officers are the face of MISA at national level – most certainly to those persons who have fallen victim to media freedom and freedom of expression violations. These are staff members who go further than document violations, and in many instances offer much needed moral support to journalists. They must therefore be acknowledged in name: • MISA Botswana - Ms. Caroline Phiri-Lubwika • MISA Lesotho - Mr. Tom Mapesela • MISA Malawi - Mr. Innocent Chitosi • MISA Mozambique - Mr. Gustavo Mahoque • MISA Namibia Mrs. Carmen Cupido - • MISA South Africa - Mr. Jude Mathurine • MISA Swaziland - Mrs. Phumelele F. Dlamini • MISA Tanzania - Mr. Marco Gideon • MISA Zambia - Mr. Sipo Kapumba Mr. Brian Muletambo • MISA Zimbabwe - Mr. Rashweat Mukundu We wish to express sincere appreciation to all partner organisations and donors who have contributed to this project. A further note of thanks to the International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX) in Toronto, Canada, which ensures that violations recorded by MISA in southern Africa receives maximum exposure in the international community and in so doing, allow for rapid, world-wide and coordinated response to media freedom and freedom of expression violations. Zoé Titus Regional Programme Manager: Media Freedom Monitoring So This Is Democracy? 2003 i Media Institute of Southern Africa