SECTOR 4 4.5 Journalists and editors do not practise selfcensorship. “Self-censorship is rife”, and panellists felt that the competition for advertising was a major reason for this, particularly as government is the country’s biggest advertiser. “The scramble is for advertising. Government is dangling the carrot. You have to sell your soul to get the advert by withdrawing content that may hurt government or the private sector.” “Journalists are aware of what they should and should not cover.” Panellists added that journalists quickly become aware of the culture of self-censorship in news rooms. “Your first day in the newsroom, you won’t be told: ‘You only cover this and that’. But when you see the stories produced, you realise what is the hidden fruit. Journalists are aware of what they should and should not cover.” Self-censorship is most overt in media platforms that are totally dependent on advertising: “We don’t even dream about politics. We are told not to cover politics for the sake of getting advertising. Journalists don’t chase stories because they know it will be killed when it gets to the top.” Furthermore, journalists do not ask critical questions at government press conferences “for fear of being labelled as ‘troublesome.” 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: 56 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER LESOTHO 2010 2.8 (2008 = 1.3; 2006 = 1.2)