SECTOR 2 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: 2.4 (2008 = 1.0 ; 2006 = 1.0) 2.4 The editorial independence of print media published by a public authority is protected adequately against undue political interference. The editorial independence of media produced by the government is not protected, and there is a great deal of interference in political coverage across the state-run media. The Principle Secretary (PS) in the Ministry of Communications, Science and Technology often phones state media editors, telling them what should and should not be covered. On one occasion, a junior reporter at the state news agency was sent to cover a press conference by an opposition party, in response to a statement made by the Prime Minister. The PS phoned the agency’s news desk, instructing it not to cover the opposition party’s press conference. However, the journalist had already left the office, and filed a story on his/her return. Somehow the story was distributed and broadcast on Radio Lesotho. The PS insisted that disciplinary action be taken against the reporter, who had just joined the agency. 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: 1.4 (2008 = 1.9 ; 2006 = 1.0) AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER LESOTHO 2010 31