SECTOR 4 4.7 Owners of established mainstream private media do not interfere with editorial independence. Analysis: Owners of mainstream private media, in general, do not interfere with editorial independence. In some instances, however, the owner is also the editor, as is the case at The Namibian with Gwen Lister. Although The Namibian is owned by a trust, power, influence and control lies with Lister, who is the sole trustee. With Informanté being owned by the Trustco Group, which has subsidiaries in the insurance, finance, education, property and media sectors, among others, the line between advertising and editorial content can become blurred as the publication is often used to promote the group’s interests and economic agenda. 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: 3 (2005 = 3.0; 2007 = 2.9) 4.8 Journalists and media houses have integrity and are not corrupt. Analysis: Generally journalists and media houses appear to have integrity and are not corrupt. However, because journalists are not paid “very well”, they are vulnerable to fall victim to corruption, or at least for their thinking and independence to be influenced. Media trips and cocktail parties could be ways in which sources may try get journalists to portray them positively in the media. AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER NAMIBIA 2009 65