SECTOR 2 2.3 Efforts are undertaken to increase the scope of circulation of the print media, particularly to rural communities. Panellists observed that rural people in Tanzania were still disadvantaged in terms of access to print media. It was noted that community print media were almost nonexistent and that a few regional papers such as the Arusha Times in Arusha were not in a language that most citizens could grasp.9 Mention was made of only one grassroots print publication, published by a civil society organisation called GRAFCA. 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: 1.9 (2008 = 1.8 ; 2006 = 2.4) 2.4 The editorial independence of print media published by a public authority is protected adequately against undue political interference. Panellists noted that there was no law protecting the editorial independence of government publications such as Tanzania’s Standard or Zanzibar’s Zanzibar Leo newspapers. They added that the independence of government papers relies heavily on the wishes of the appointing authority as well as the confidence in the managing editor. A panellist stated that although government newspapers appeared to be more professional than many other privately owned publications, there was a degree of self-censorship in state media. It was also pointed out that the Managing Editor of Tanzania’s Standard was discontinued from his post by the minister responsible for information even though he was a presidential appointee. 9 The Arusha Times is a weekly newspaper based in Arusha town, Northern Tanzania and is published in English. 24 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER TANZANIA 2010