Namibia • A marginal improvement in the salaries of journalists in the private media. • The increase in circulation of the daily newspapers, which goes against international trends. • The advent of Informanté, which has “stirred up the media pot” and created more competition in the sector. • Healthy competition in the media industry: notably if Radio 99 had not jumped in to launch its own chat show, following the curtailment of a similar show on NBC radio, the state broadcaster might not have resuscitated its original ‘Chat Show’. • Both MISA Namibia and the Editor’s Forum have become more inclusive and representative of the industry. • There is now greater access to radio chat shows through lower prices with the introduction of Telecom’s Switch and new cellphone service provider, Cell One, as well as the expansion of the cellphone network, particularly in rural areas. Negative developments in the media environment in the last two years • MISA Namibia, as a lobby group, has failed to link up with civil society to make freedom of expression and access to information national issues. • The perception of stagnation within MISA Namibia, evidenced by the lack of progress being made on establishing a media council. 54 African Media Barometer - Namibia 2007