Strategies for Internet Technology and Digital Rights Reporting https://zimbabwe.misa.org pressure on journalists to become multi- skilled in generating content in a variety of formats. With the advent of internet there has been a technological convergence of broadcasting, telecommunications and computers which has fundamentally altered the way in which broadcasting services are distributed to the consumers owing to increased speed of delivery, creation of new formats and the enablement of multi-channel distribution33. Studies show that amongst urban populations the 34radio market is on the decline, losing some of its market share to online streaming services that create competition for broadcasters as they attract music fans away from the radio listening base. Nevertheless, despite the advent of the internet and social media, radio remains extremely popular on the continent35. However, in many countries, broadcast media is monopolised by governments who exercise control and can censor content relating to digital rights. The indispensability of internet and technology in facilitating the exercise of human rights and enjoyment of basic freedoms, including digital ones, is beyond debate. What this paper is preoccupied with is strategies for media reporting on internet and technology in Southern Africa – and thus an assessment of the challenges faced by journalists and media practitioners is necessary. Reduced viability and declining revenues in mainstream media Africa has seen significant internet penetration growth, mainly because of a massive spike of internet users in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC)—between 2019 and 2020. The DRC’s number of internet users increased by 9 million (+122%) facilitated by non-profit organizations and companies like Facebook, which have invested heavily in the development of Africa’s internet connectivity36. The rapid pace of digitalisation has significantly disrupted and eroded long-established sources of income for mainstream media such as marketing and advertising revenue. Notably, advertising revenue – the primary source of income for many media operations - is shifting to online platforms and their associated technology companies37. Thus, the advent of technology has threatened the financial sustainability of mainstream media. The closure or downscaling of newspapers and the financial pressures on broadcast news reporting are having a damaging effect on media freedom since quality journalism (particularly specialised journalism) is becoming harder to sustain, let alone develop and expand and this inevitably weakens democracy as a whole38. Whilst authoritarian regimes are most commonly blamed for violating media rights, it could be argued that sustainability challenges will ultimately pose just as much of a threat to press freedom39. 33Ndlela, M. N. (2007). Broadcasting reforms in Southern Africa: continuity and change in the era of globalization. 34 See ‘Radio loses market share to online streaming services’ https://www.pwc.co.za/en/press-room/radio-loses-market- share-toonline-streaming-services.html [Accessed 16 September 2020] 35See ‘#WorldRadioDay: Why radio is still going strong in Africa’ https://www.dw.com/en/worldradioday-why-radio-is-still- goingstrong-in-africa/a-52355828 [Accessed 16 September 2020] 36See ‘These are the countries where internet access is lowest’ https://cutt.ly/vhEffQK [Accessed 20 November 2020] 37See ‘Namibia’s Media: Facing the Digital Challenge’ via https://w w w.researchgate.net/profile/Dietrich_Remmert/ publication/341521489_Namibia’s_Media_Facing_the_Digital_C hallenge/links/5ec7aa77299bf1c09ad28c80/Namibias-Media-Facingthe-Digital-Challenge.pdf [accessed on 16 September 2020] 38See, UNESCO, World Trends in Freedom of Expression and Media Development: 2017/2018 Global Report. 2018, 13-4 39 Ibid., 20-1 10