SECTOR 3 3.6 The editorial independence of the state/public broadcaster from political influence is guaranteed by law and practised. There is no law guaranteeing the editorial independence of the state broadcaster. Nor does the broadcaster have a charter or editorial policy that says it is editorially independent. “You just know that you are government and you don’t bite the hand that feeds you,” one panellist explained. All broadcasters tend to be factional in their reporting of politics, and the state broadcaster is no exception. For example, during a recent strike, journalists working for the state broadcaster were given a directive to report that it was “business as usual”, and that few workers were observing the stay-away. “ You just know that you are government and you don’t bite the hand that feeds you” 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: 1.0 (2008 = n/a; 2006 = n/a) 3.7 The state/public broadcaster is adequately funded in a manner that protects it from arbitrary interference through its budget and from commercial pressure. The state broadcaster’s budget is presented to Parliament during the government’s annual budgeting process, as part of the Communication Ministry’s budget. As such, it is Parliament that “rubber stamps” the budget. The state broadcaster raises income from advertising revenue on both radio and television, as well as from private broadcasters’ rental of the transmitter network that it runs on behalf of government. Members of the public are not charged license fees for owning television and radio sets. AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER LESOTHO 2010 45