SECTOR 2 The media landscape, including new media, is characterised by diversity, independence and sustainability. 2.1 A wide range of sources of information (print, broadcasting, internet, mobile phones) is accessible and affordable to citizens. The Tanzanian media landscape is diverse and highly competitive, offering the population a wide range of sources of news and entertainment. Print By June 2012, there were 763 newspapers registered with the government, an increase of 52 newspapers from 2011. There are about 14 regular, active, daily newspapers, and 62 weeklies. The three dailies owned by the government are Daily News, Habari Leo and Zanzibar Leo. The government also owns three weekly newspapers: the Sunday News, Habari Leo Jumapili and Zanzibar Jumapili. Newspapers are largely affordable to urban citizens, selling for between TZS 500 (US$ US$0.32) and TZS1,000 (US$0.63). To compare, one litre of locally brewed alcohol costs TZS500 (US$0.32) to TZS1,000 (US$0.63). However, in rural areas, where many people survive on less than US$1 a day, newspapers are prohibitively expensive. Rural distribution is also an issue. Newspapers may get to outlying areas but are often not on time, arriving two days late. Panellists noted that this is largely a result, not of the newspaper distributors, but of the poor infrastructure in the country, especially rural roads, and the high costs of production. “The taxation on the print media hampers newspaper distribution. If the government exempted the print media from tax, newspapers would reach more people.” The Tanzania Media Product Survey conducted in 2011 by Synovate shows that Mwananchi, a Kiswahili newspaper, had the highest readership of any daily newspaper in the country, selling some 40,000 copies each day. Weekly tabloids sell about 120,000. However, panellists noted that when the cover price of the newspaper was increased from TZS500 (US$0.32) to TZS800 (US$0.51) during the second quarter of 2012, the circulation dropped by 30 per cent. “Some private newspapers find it increasingly difficult to cover the costs of production and therefore have to increase the cover price. Inflation has increased dramatically in the last two years, making the costs of newsprint and other production expenses unbearable.” 24 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER TANZANIA 2012