SECTOR 1 “There is a reluctance for people to speak on NBC in the same way as people do in the SMS pages.” The NBC’s ‘Open Line’ radio phone-in programme was temporarily taken off air some time ago. Every once in a while the producer opens the lines for listeners to call in, but commentary is restricted to a specific topic. The recently appointed Director-General of the NBC, Albertus Aochamub, is on record as saying the corporation’s board will review the restrictions on the phone-in programmes and talk shows. “I think that is going to be a very important indicator to see which way the NBC is going as a public broadcaster,” a panellist noted. The level of free expression also varies between media, with broadcast media being more subject to fear and self-censorship. One panellist opined that “Commercial radio stations only address flimsy issues, while (the community radio station) Base FM is more adventurous. With the newspapers we are doing quite well.” The influence media have over key political constituencies determines how free they are in terms of expression. “The (NBC’s) Oshiwambo Service and National Radio have been more regulated as they have more influence. The presenters regulate the topics discussed.” Meanwhile, NBC television shows signs of becoming more open. On the current affairs programme ‘The Week That Was’, journalists with a diversity of opinions discuss the week’s events, while people with diverse and often controversial views are interviewed on ‘One on One’ - Namibia’s equivalent to the BBC’s ‘Hard Talk’. These programmes usually tackle political issues. However, a panellist also noted that “there is clearly fear among journalists, whether employed by state or private media. There is self-censorship. People are afraid of being labelled according to a political affiliation as this can affect how you get work.” Other panellists qualified this statement. “I agree that there are some journalists that are afraid to speak out. But there are others who really do speak out. Columnists, for example, are very outspoken.” Furthermore, there are the SMS pages in the newspapers, which reflect a diversity of opinions, along with the letters pages and ‘vox pops’. “The newspaper editorials can also be outspoken and critical.” There are certain topics that journalists address less openly than others. Journalists are afraid to tackle issues of sexuality, for example. Additionally, certain topics are seen as no-go areas for journalists. For example, when Informanté reported that founding President Sam Nujoma had prostate cancer, the editor was forced to AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER NAMIBIA 2011 13