SECTOR 4

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:

2.0 (2005: 3.0; 2007: 2.9; 2009: 3.0)

4.7
Journalists and media houses have integrity
and are not corrupt.
Panellists noted that journalists are invited to numerous functions, and posited that
this influences how they write. “You are taken in. They give you a lot of presents,
which is not really corruption, but it affects your coverage.” As a result, “you hardly
ever see stories critical of (the television show) Big Brother, or big companies”.
Some media houses have policies on receiving gifts. “Everything we receive at the
station, we share amongst ourselves.” Meanwhile, the NBC’s policy states that
any gift worth more than N$100 (US$15) has to be declared. Problems occur
when journalists are left to use their own discretion. “If there were policies and
guidelines, it would be easier for journalists.”
An example was given of a radio presenter who drives a car sponsored by a car
dealer – a form of celebrity endorsement. Another case was highlighted, of a
journalist who would ask people for money in order to cover their stories. When
he was discovered, no punitive action was taken against him. He is no longer
a practicing journalist. When a similar case was discovered at the NBC, the
journalist had to appear before a disciplinary hearing and was fired.
“Generally, I think Namibian journalists have integrity. If we improve training, our
integrity will improve. When you believe in the principles of journalism, you won’t
be so challenged by external influences.”

AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER NAMIBIA 2011

61

Select target paragraph3