SECTOR 4 4.2 The standard of reporting follows the basic principles of accuracy and fairness. “Certain media houses will say that their deliberate policy is to bend the rules,” one panellist argued, explaining that some media were aware of their professional principles, but broke them deliberately in order to see how the authorities would respond. However, other media houses try to follow the principles of the profession. “Even the state media tries,” it was pointed out. Nonetheless, the political and economic realities of producing media in Lesotho make it difficult to put these good intentions into practice. “Certain media houses will say that their deliberate policy is to bend the rules” This has varying effects on the trust citizens have in the media. “City dwellers believe so much in the media as a communication channel, people will use it even to spread lies. In the rural areas, people question what they see in the newspapers or hear on the radio.” Panellists felt that the listeners of private radio stations, in particular, are “very assertive”. “When MoAfrika radio became pro-government, listeners called in to say: ‘That is our radio station, you are not going to run away with it.’ That is what has given radio a lot of credibility, as the public asserts ethical standards.” It remains difficult to gauge the level of professional standards and how they are applied, as “different people believe in different media.” 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: 3.2 (2008 = 2.1; 2006 = 1.2) AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER LESOTHO 2010 53