SECTOR 4 There is very little religious diversity. Only the state media offers opportunities for persons with disabilities; private media houses shy away from hiring differently abled persons because they are afraid of the potential additional costs: which may be unaffordable. Only The Voice newspaper is believed to have a deliberate policy of employing persons with disabilities. Prejudice factors into the hiring decisions of many organisations. Society, in general, is intolerant of physical or mental differences and especially towards people of different sexual orientations than the norm (heterosexuals). There is also a level of discrimination based on age; with senior/older media practitioners being less likely to be employed. ‘Generally, some [equality] policies exist at government level but that is also where the disregard of these policies begins.’ ‘I don’t think media houses think these things [through] and are deliberate in all their human resource decisions when it comes to diversity,’ a panellist concluded, ‘they are just hiring.’ At Gabz FM, however, the new management initiated improved diversity, leading to increased employment of women (including management positions), young people and media veterans who can share their experience and expertise. Gabz FM also hired the first Caucasian and is working on a standardised pay grade to ensure equality. 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: 2.7 (2005 = n/a; 2007 = n/a; 2009 = 2.7, 2011 = 2.7; 2014 = 3.3) Overall score for sector 4: 2.4 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER BOTSWANA 2018 59