SECTOR 4 Scores: Individual scores: 1 Country does not meet indicator 2 Country meets only a few aspects of indicator 3 Country meets some aspects of indicator 4 Country meets most aspects of indicator. 5 Country meets all aspects of the indicator Average score: 2.8 (2009: 2.8; 2007 and 2005: n/a) 4.8 Salary levels and general working conditions for journalists and other media practitioners are adequate. Payment levels and working conditions for journalists differ between media houses, but have improved since 2009, the year of the last AMB. In 2009, the average salary of journalists working for the private media was around E2500 (US$ 362) per month. In 2011, journalists can expect to start on E6500 (US$ 942) per month if there are no additional benefits, or E3500 (US$ 507) per month when benefits (housing, medical aid and pension) are included in the package. At SBIS, the average salary was between E6000 to 8000 (US$ 870 – 1160) per month in 2009. This basic salary remains the same today, but benefits have been added to the package. Journalists working for Swazi TV can expect to earn no less than E10 000 (US$ 1500) per month, as they are expected to be “multi-skilled”. Staff at SBIS hope to follow suit with a pay rise, and a proposal to that effect is now with the Ministry of Finance. While salaries at the mainstream media may have improved, journalists working for the weeklies can go for months without being paid. “If you talk to their owners, they will say they are only just starting. They say that they only take on people as freelancers.” Stringers (freelancers) for the Times are paid E150 (US$ 22) for a lead story in the daily paper, E250 (US$ 36) for a lead in the weekly Swazi News, and E1000 (US$ 145) for a lead story in the Times on Sunday. AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER SWAZILAND 2011 65