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. Namibia has a wide range of media sources available to the public; however, with great income disparities, panellists noted that “affordability is a problem”. Access varies when comparing rural and urban areas as well as across different income groups with different levels of education. In relation to income and living standards, affording 1 daily paper every day at N$3 (0.25 USD) a day, hence $60 (5USD) a month, is more than the average person, with a salary of under N$2000 a month (170 USD)3, is willing to pay. For instance, a pensioner without any additional income has a state pension of N$600 (51 USD) available each month4 which, in most cases, needs to provide for more than 1 person. Therefore all noted that “all media subsidise their prices with advertising” in order to be able to sell daily newspapers, for example, at the relatively low price of N$3. Furthermore, it is estimated that every newspaper is read by about 6 people and due to this habit of media sharing, which also affects television, radio and cell phones, a panellist asserted that “accessibility is not always determined by affordability alone”. Publications: Dailies: There are 5 all available for N$3 each (approximately 0.25 cents U$). Circulation figures are estimated as The Namibian is the only local publication that is audited by South Africa’s Audit Bureau of Circulation: 1. The German language daily, Allgemeine Zeitung, with an estimated print run of about 4000 to 5000 (published by Namibia Media Holdings (NMH)) 2. The Afrikaans language daily, Die Republikein, with a print run of about 20,000 (published by NMH) 3. New Era, with a print run of around 40,000 (published by governmentowned New Era Publications Corporation) 4. The Namibian, with a print run of about 40,000 Mondays to Fridays and approximately 60,000 on Fridays (published by Free Press of Namibia Trust) 3 4 28 1 N$= 0.08470 US$ On 1st April the new president Hage Geingob raised the pension to 1000 N$ (85 USD) a month AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER NAMIBIA 2015