SECTOR 4 There is a distinct lack of investigative reporting. Panellists felt that only the NBC TV programme ‘Open File’ and Insight magazine really try to be investigative. Media houses need to give journalists the time to investigate stories. Business and economics is another neglected area. “I don’t think the skills are there.” However, some panellists felt there has been an improvement in economics and business coverage in recent years. NBC TV now has a daily business and economics programme, and most newspapers have a business and economics section. “We could do a lot more on rural issues, but that’s always a question of cost and manpower.” Another panellist had heard a lot of complaints about the lack of international news in the media. “We are not reflecting properly what is going on outside the country. Those international stories we do cover are not contextualised.” 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: 2.7 (2005: 3.1; 2007: 3.7; 2009: 3.1) 4.4. Equal opportunities regardless of race, social group, gender/sex, religion, disabilities and age are promoted in media houses. Fair labour practice depends on the type of media house. The staff of private newspapers - senior staff in particular - tend to be white. Within the state media most staff are black. “There is a problem with racism, particularly with the commercial media, where people are appointed according to their race.” Also problematically, within the state media, people tend to be appointed and promoted according to their political affiliation. With regards to disabilities, a panellist frankly stated: “I don’t know of one journalist with a disability.” However, age is not so much of an issue, and there 58 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER NAMIBIA 2011