SECTOR 2

The media landscape, including new
media, is characterised by diversity,
independence and sustainability.
2.1 A wide range of sources of information (print,
broadcasting, internet) is accessible and affordable to
citizens.
Analysis:
Print media
There are four national dailies in Namibia: The Namibian (English with some
Oshiwambo pages), Republikein (predominantly Afrikaans), Allgemeine Zeitung
(German) and New Era (English and some indigenous languages).
The country has five national English weeklies: the free tabloid Informanté,
Windhoek Observer, Namibia Sun, Namibia Economist and SWAPO’s mouthpiece,
Namibia Today. Another weekly, the Southern Times, is a joint venture between the
Namibian and Zimbabwe governments.
The Namibian prints 29,000 copies Monday to Thursday and 43,000 on Fridays.
The Republikein prints on average 20,520 Monday to Thursday and 22,310 on
Fridays. The New Era has a print run of 17,900 Monday to Thursday and 21,300
on Fridays. The Allgemeine Zeitung prints about 4,500 to 5,000 Monday to
Thursday and 6,000 on Fridays.
Informanté prints 70,000 copies each Thursday. It is distributed freely around
Namibia. Between 25,000 and 28,000 copies of the Namibia Sun are printed each
week. The Windhoek Observer prints 7,000 copies each week. Some 7,000 copies of
the Namibia Economist are printed each Friday. It was not possible to ascertain the
print run of either the Namibia Today or the Southern Times.5
The coastal newspaper, Namib Times, is published bi-weekly and covers
Swakopmund and Walvis Bay, while the Lüderitz community has the Buchter
News, a monthly A4 newsletter with a print run of about 1,200 copies. There are
also small community newspapers in other towns, such as Rehoboth.

5 Circulation figures for all publications obtained directly from media houses on May 29, 2009

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AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER NAMIBIA 2009

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