SECTOR 4 4.2 The standard of reporting follows the basic principles of accuracy and fairness. There are numerous inaccuracies in the media’s reporting, which also lacks fairness at times. For example, the NBC often portrays groups that are considered antigovernment in a negative light. “A minister will hammer on someone, and that person will not have an opportunity to answer.” On the whole, journalists do try to be accurate and fair. However, there are exceptions, which in turn give the entire profession a negative reputation. A panellist suggested that “Seventeen complaints made to the Media Ombudsman in 2010 are not so bad, given how much media we have.” Some newspapers try to correct inaccuracies, while the NBC has embarked providing its staff with increased training. The broadcaster currently has a training agreement with Swedish Radio. There is evidence of reporting being biased against opposition parties. This bias does not only apply to the state media, but also to private print media. Having said this, some political parties are more active than others, and it is difficult for journalists to cover parties that are less active. Some panellists took issue with the quality of journalism in Namibia. “The quality of journalism determines the quality of media that is put out there.” Reports often contain typographical errors, while many journalists appear to be lazy and do not follow up on different angles in a story. “There needs to be more done to enable journalists to report in a balanced way. State media are better trained than private media. When I listen to commercial radio stations, they do very little research. Rather they take information straight from other media or from web sites. Some presenters don’t even have a script.” Presenters on commercial radio consider themselves to be disk jockeys (DJs). “But they need to realise that even a DJ has to be well prepared. It’s not just about talking.” The poor quality of journalism stems from the fact that most Namibian journalists are not trained properly. There are few scholarships for aspiring media workers, and many of the students who study media at the Polytechnic end up going into public relations. “Media Studies at UNAM is not really for journalists. That qualification does not prepare you to work in the media.” At the same time, few media houses are committed to building the capacity of their journalists. Some journalists have been in the industry for too long, and need refresher courses. They also need to embrace modern technology, and to become more professional. “There must be a mind shift in the industry. The public is not aware of media ethics, so are not able to hold media accountable for twisting stories. Therefore, journalists need to be responsible.” 56 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER NAMIBIA 2011