2.3. The SADC Journalists Under Fire campaign The SADC Journalists Under Fire campaign is designed to offer immediate and practical support to journalists who fall victim to media freedom violations. It is a rapid response mechanism which comprises of six elements, ie. Information sharing (alerts), direct practical support strategies, research, training and advocacy and lobby elements. The following activities were undertaken in 2006 as part of the SADC Journalists Under Fire campaign: Botswana: MISA Botswana provided legal advice to Mokgosi newspaper after the newspaper’s editor and reporter were slapped with a P1million lawsuit. The case was withdrawn. Namibia: MISA Namibia has joined forces with the Namibia NGO umbrella organization, the Namibia Non-Governmental Forum (NANGOF), to develop a media and civil society coalition. In doing so MISA Namibia aims to influence and devise coordinated and joint activities to link issues of media freedom and freedom of expression to the larger socio-economic development agenda. Swaziland: MISA Swaziland regularly visited the print media to explain MISA’s goals and objections and to train journalists on the importance, function and production process of alerts. The chapter has seen an increase in proactive reportage of media violations by the journalists as a result. Zimbabwe: In 2006 the Zimbabwe government intensified its ban on foreign journalists attempting to work or report from Zimbabwe. This resulted in journalists clandestinely entering Zimbabwe and some of them being arrested. As a result MISA has had to intervene expeditiously to develop a programme response to the crisis. In Zimbabwe alone, 15 journalists were assisted with legal support in 2006. In the case pf journalists Tsvangirai Mukwazhi and Tendai Musiyazviriyo MISA Zimbabwe put pressure on the government to seek the release of the journalists who were arrested while covering an opposition rally. Mukwazhi was badly beaten and had his equipment confiscated and destroyed. The chapter works closely with the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights who ensured the release of the two journalists from police custody. In an attempt to understand the challenges faced by the local media, the chapter held three consultative meetings with journalists in Bulawayo, Bindura and Gwanda. This outreach work is aimed at developing an understanding of the needs of the local media and further provides much needed moral and practical support to the media. During these meetings media practitioners have listed an extensive list of support needs that the chapter endeavors to address. 2. 4. African Media Barometer At the end of 2006 MISA and the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung (FES) completed the first round of African Media Barometer (AMB) surveys in the 11 SADC countries where MISA is active The AMB is an assessment tool of the national media environments. A collective panel of media and civil society representatives assess their national environments according to 42 defined indicators. The benchmarks used are largely lifted from the African Commission for Human and Peoples’ Rights’ Declaration of Principles of Freedom of Expression, adopted in 2002. 18 Annual Report 2006