SECTOR 4 complaints if they feel aggrieved by the way in which they have been presented in the media. The MCC, which is supposed to be owned jointly by the print and electronic media, also has a code of ethics (which are not enforced), and procedures for lodging complaints. Media practitioners were involved in establishing both the code of ethics and the complaints procedures. However, there appears to be only a small amount of support for the MCC, notably from the Times and the Observer, with the broadcast media refusing to be involved. As such, funding of the body remains problematic and “no one seems to care about it”. “Complaints tend to be dealt with in-house by media houses rather than being passed on to the MCC.” Although the Media Ombudsman has made an effort to publicise the MCC and its work through radio programmes and various print media articles, there is general consensus that members of the public are still unaware of its existence Panellists were unaware of any complaints that have been made to the MCC. This is despite newspapers like the Times publishing notices on page 2, informing the public that it may contact the MCC if they feel the newspaper has been inaccurate in its reporting. “The MCC is like a baby without parents to nurse it. It is not enough that MISA provides it space to operate; it needs the media houses to own it, but they have distanced themselves from it.” “One day, very soon, the media will be in trouble, because the government doesn’t like to have an independent media. If the media does not gets its house in order, in terms of self-regulation, I foresee the government will set up a statutory version.” 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: 58 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER Swaziland 2014 2.9 (2005: 1.3; 2007: 2.6; 2009: 2.3; 2011: 2.7)