CHAPTER 5: SIGNIFICANT THEMES by media and civil society, improved access to international broadcast networks, professionalisation of the private sector as the basis for attracting investments in the industry, and the provision of educational content. 2019 AMB The positive developments highlighted in this AMB included the adoption of a Communication Code (the revision of which was still in progress), amendments to the Cybercrime Act in 2016, an increase in programmes that promote culture in the public service, the growth of religious media, and the development of social media in facilitating public debates. Recommendations included establishing a consensual journalists’ union to strengthen freedom of expression, establishing a platform for interaction between civil society and the media, passing access to information legislation, providing civic education on gender issues, and setting up a coherent ICT policy. Malawi 2012 AMB The 2012 AMB for Malawi, a country with a long history of authoritarian rule, highlighted several positive developments enhancing freedom of expression. These included the granting of new television and radio licences, repealing of Section 46 of the Penal Code, reduction of threats against the media under the new government, the appointment of press officers in each ministry, elimination of VAT on newspapers, and the declaration by President Joyce Banda that the public broadcaster would be opened up to the opposition and alternative viewpoints. In addition, it noted the successful lobby by the media for the amendment of the Civil Procedure Act, which required the government to be given three days’ notice for getting an interdict against the state, and the introduction of two new media products, The Business Times and Nkwaso, the revival of the investigative desk at The Nation, the general improvement of salaries and working conditions of media workers, and the supportive content-sharing initiative between private and community radio stations. There were also several negative developments, many of which were associated with the outgoing government of Mr Bingu wa Mutharika. They included the harassment of journalists during the past regime, the withdrawal of government advertising from The Nation, attacks on civil society organisations shortly before the collapse of Mutharika’s government, the shutdown of Capital Radio and intimidation 31 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER 11 YEARS IN REVIEW