Zimbabwe 4.5. Gender mainstreaming is reflected in the editorial content. ANALYSIS: The newspapers are very male dominated. Stories on women and by women are usually only found in the entertainment section. The media content reflects the power relations in society. For example, in local councils only 4% of the councillors are women. When women are arrested during political demonstrations their names are hardly ever published while those of their male counterparts routinely are. Because media also need to be an agent for change and not just a mirror of society, women should be referred to as credible sources more often and given platforms to air their views. SCORES: Individual scores: 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 2, 2 Average score: 1.2 4.6. Journalists and editors do not practise self-censorship. ANALYSIS: Self-censorship occurs in both the state and independent media – both consciously and unconsciously. Many reporters, whether working for the state or the private media, are “conditioned” in the sense that they know what is expected of them without anyone having to give them directions. They suffer from the ‘Publish and Perish Syndrome’, afraid to publish certain stories for fear of victimisation.Journalists do not want to offend the Media and Information Commission for fear of losing their accreditation or being arrested under AIPPA. For example, when a prominent businessman disappeared from Harare having been arrested for allegedly spying on the government, the news got to the media but no one dared to take it up. It was only after The Herald had written about it that all 34 African Media Barometer - Zimbabwe 2006