SECTOR 2 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: 3.8 (2012 = 4.5; 2010 = 4.3; 2007 = 4.0) 2.3 The editorial independence of print media published by a public authority is protected adequately against undue political interference. The only print media with a government stake is New Vision, which is jointly owned by government (53%) and the private sector (47% listed on the Stock Exchange). The company’s board is made up of 5 government appointees and 6 members from the private sector. There were varied perceptions by panellists on how independent New Vision is. On the one hand, panellists noted, “When you read the act, it would seem that New Vision is operating under the watchful eye of state and this may influence editorial policy.” One panellist posited that there might be political interference depending on the content, arguing, “If it involves the First family, there will be interference.” Another alleged that, “The truth is, sometimes when New Vision writers land on stories that implicate government; they’ll want the Daily Monitor to run it. Although the perception is that it is an opposition newspaper; writers there will do this not because they’ve been told by their editors to do so, but because they think the story might not be published otherwise.” Others argued, however, “New Vision is not your typical government-owned newspaper, and it sometimes covers more than the private sector media.” They also noted that there are particular situations where New Vision provides greater detail than its private media counterparts on issues that might seem contentious for the state. 36 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER UGANDA 2016