SECTOR 3

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:

1.1 (2005: 1.0; 2007: 1.0; 2009: 1.8; 2011: 1.1)

3.5 The editorial independence of the state/public
broadcaster from political influence is guaranteed by
law and practised to ensure balanced and fair news
and current affairs programmes.
There is no legislation that protects the editorial independence of SBIS or
Swazi TV, or that protects them from political interference. SBIS is operated as
a government department, through the Ministry of Information. Swazi TV is
governed by a board, the composition of which is stipulated in the Swaziland
Television Authority Act (see indicator 3.2). This Act, however, does not contain
any mention of editorial independence.
Although SBIS is said to have a written editorial policy, it is largely unknown
even by SBIS staff, who are considered civil servants and are guided by standard
government regulations rather than a media code of ethics. As such, the editorial
content of state broadcasting is definitely influenced by the ruling powers and
this is clear in the resulting positive focus on the king, the royal family and the
government in general.
While state broadcast journalists may cover a variety of events, any voices critical
of the state/monarchy tend not to be broadcast, and dissenting voices are
routinely blocked out. For example, neither SBIS nor Swazi TV carried any reports
on the seven-week-long teachers’ strike in 2012, even though the action took
place close to the SBIS building. Even when the teachers were pardoned by the
queen mother in the absence of the king, who was out of the country at the time,
the PM stated that the incident must not be broadcast. In another incident a few
years ago, MPs passed a vote of no confidence in Cabinet, but the Prime Minister
prevented them from going on air to voice their grievances.

AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER Swaziland 2014

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