SECTOR 2 The media landscape, including new media, is characterised by diversity, independence and sustainability. 2.1 A wide range of sources of information (print, broadcasting, internet, mobile phones) is accessible and affordable to citizens. Print Media The only daily newspaper is the state-owned Daily News, which is bilingual (English, Setswana), has a print-run of about 65,000, and is distributed for free across the nation. It needs to be noted that, ‘the Daily News is more of a government information dissemination paper than a proper newspaper.’ Weekly newspapers include the Botswana Guardian, Botswana Gazette, Weekend Post, Mmegi, The Monitor, The Voice, The Patriot on Sunday, The Business Weekly, Echo, Midweek Sun, The Weekly Review, The Telegraph and the Sunday Standard. These privately-owned weekly newspapers are published in English; their circulation ‘has gone terribly’, averaging a weekly print-run of 15,000; with The Voice leading the pack with an average print-run of around 20,000. Newspapers are almost exclusively available in urban areas and in English, their accessibility to the wider public outside of these domains is limited. It may take up to a day after the publication date of a newspaper for it to arrive in areas as little as 40 km from the capital. ‘Even the distribution network had to be cut down because of the expenses...’ The average cost for a newspaper is 10 BWP (1 USD) while a loaf of bread costs between 5 and 10 BWP (between 0.50 and 1 USD), making public print media unaffordable for many in the public sphere. Broadcasting ‘In 2007 private broadcasters gained the ability to apply and hold national broadcasting licences which were previously only awarded on a regional basis.’ Originally, only state media was available nationally. Presently, three radio stations – Gabz FM, Duma FM and Yarona FM – air their programmes nationwide, which is regarded as ‘allowing for greater contribution by people in the rural areas.’ Radio has the highest reach and is the most accessible media for the majority of citizens. A panellist explained that his observation was that the majority of the ‘rural population rely on state public radio broadcasting services as their stations 24 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER BOTSWANA 2018