SECTOR 2 Scores: Individual scores: 1 Country does not meet indicator 2 Country minimally meets aspects of the indicator. 3 Country meets many aspects of indicator but progress may be too recent to judge. 4 Country meets most aspects of indicator. 5 Country meets all aspects of the indicator and has been doing so over time. Average score: 2.2 (2005 = n/a; 2007 = n/a) 2.9 Government does not use its power over the placement of advertisements as a means to interfere with editorial content. Analysis: In March 2001, the Namibian government, under the leadership of President Sam Nujoma, imposed a ban on The Namibian newspaper, prohibiting any government body from placing advertisements in the daily newspaper or from purchasing it with state funds. The government claimed this was because the newspaper was too critical of its policies. This ban is still in place. The continuing ban denies The Namibian readers access to important and relevant content. The fact that New Era publishes all government tenders, as well as most of the other government advertisements, means that government is “monopolising a portion of the advertising market and reserving it mostly for state media”. Scores: Individual scores: 1 Country does not meet indicator 2 Country minimally meets aspects of the indicator. 3 Country meets many aspects of indicator but progress may be too recent to judge. 4 Country meets most aspects of indicator. 5 Country meets all aspects of the indicator and has been doing so over time. Average score: 2.0 (2005 = 1.8; 2007 = 1.3) AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER NAMIBIA 2009 39