AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER the First Home Grown Analysis of the Media Landscape in Africa
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AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER The first home grown analysis of the media landscape in Africa NAMIBIA 2011 Published by: Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) fesmedia Africa Windhoek, Namibia Tel: +264 (0)61 237438 E-mail: [email protected] www.fesmedia.org Director: Mareike Le Pelley © Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) ISBN 978-99916-873-5-3 FREE COPY The findings, interpretations and conclusions expressed in this volume do not necessarily reflect the views of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung or fesmedia Africa. fesmedia Africa does not guarantee the accuracy of the data included in this work. CONTENT SECTOR 1: 9 Freedom of expression, including freedom of the media, are effectively protected and promoted. SECTOR 2: 27 The media landscape, including new media, is characterised by diversity, independence and sustainability. SECTOR 3: 41 Broadcasting regulation is transparent and independent; the state broadcaster is transformed into a truly public broadcaster. SECTOR 4: 53 The media practise high levels of professional standards. AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER NAMIBIA 2011 1 The African Media Barometer (AMB) The African Media Barometer (AMB) is an in-depth and comprehensive description and measurement system for national media environments on the African continent. Unlike other press surveys or media indices the AMB is a self- assessment exercise based on homegrown criteria derived from African Protocols and Declarations like the “Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression in Africa” (2002) by the “African Commission for Human and Peoples’ Rights”. The instrument was jointly developed by fesmedia Africa, the Media Project of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) in Africa, and the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) in 2004. The African Media Barometer is an analytical exercise to measure the media situation in a given country which at the same time serves as a practical lobbying tool for media reform. Its results are presented to the public of the respective country to push for an improvement of the media situation using the AU- Declaration and other African standards as benchmarks. The recommendations of the AMB-reports are then integrated into the work of the 19 country offices of the Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung (FES) in sub-Saharan Africa and into the advocacy efforts of other local media organizations like the Media Institute of Southern Africa. Methodology and Scoring System Every two to three years a panel of 10-12 experts, consisting of at least five media practitioners and five representatives from civil society, meets to assess the media situation in their own country. For 1 1/2 days they discuss the national media environment according to 45 predetermined indicators. The discussion and scoring is moderated by an independent consultant who also edits the AMB-report. After the discussion of one indicator panel members allocate their individual scores to that respective indicator in an anonymous vote according to the following scale: 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 2 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER NAMIBIA 2011 The sum of all individual indicator scores will be divided by the number of panel members to determine the average score for each indicator. These average indicator scores are added up to form average sector scores which then make up the overall country score. Outcome The final, qualitative report summarizes the general content of the discussion and provides the average score for each indicator plus sector scores and overall country score. In the report panellists are not quoted by name to protect them from possible repercussions. Over time the biennial or tri-annual reports are measuring the media development in that particular country and should form the basis for a political discussion on media reform. In countries where English is not the official language the report is published in a bilingual edition. Implementing the African Media Barometer the offices of the Friedrich-Ebert- Stiftung (FES) and - in SADC countries the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) - only serve as a convener of the panel and as guarantor of the methodology. The content of the discussion and the report is owned by the panel of local experts and does not represent or reflect the view of FES or MISA. At the end of 2008 the indicators were reviewed, amended and some new ones were added to address the rapid developments in Information Communication Technology. By the end of 2011 the African Media Barometer has been held in 28 African countries, in some of them already for the third time. Mareike Le Pelley Kaitira Kandjii Head of fesmedia Africa Regional Director Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung Media Institute of Southern Windhoek, Namibia Africa (MISA) Windhoek, Namibia AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER NAMIBIA 2011 3 See above 28 AMB Countries (2005-2011) 4 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER NAMIBIA 2011 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER NAMIBIA 2011 Executive Summary The Constitutional guarantee contained in Article 21.1 (a) of the Namibian Constitution gives all Namibians the right to freedom of expression, including freedom of the press and other media. However the essence of this explicit right is contradicted by a subsequent clause in the Constitution, outdated legislation, clauses in the recently enacted Communications Act and the reluctance to promulgate a law that facilitates access to public information. Article 21.2 negates the explicit guarantee of freedom of expression in the preceding clause by outlining broad limitations such as the protection of national security, public order, decency or morality, or in relation to contempt of court, defamation or incitement to an offence. Restrictive laws such as the Official Secrets Act, the Key Points Act and the Criminal Procedures Act dating back to the apartheid era remain on the statute books. While none of these laws have been used since Independence, they remain a constant threat for the media fraternity. The absence of an Access to Information Act makes it difficult for the public, and especially for journalists, to retrieve public information that is held by the State. This is further exacerbated by the Protection of Information Act, which restricts public servants from disclosing certain information to the public. An initiative has been outlined by the Southern African Litigation Centre in conjunction with a local Namibian organization to bring possible test cases to the High Court to highlight the need for access to information. The Communications Act passed in 2009 - which was intended to regulate the communications and broadcasting sector based on principles of a free, independent and pluralistic media - contains contentious clauses that undermine the independence of the regulating body and permit the state to intercept citizens’ communications. As one journalist pointed out, “The fact that our phone calls and e-mail can be monitored has certainly affected the way I communicate.” AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER NAMIBIA 2011 5 Despite these legal impediments, Namibia is ranked as Number One by Freedom House, on the continent in terms of media freedom, with journalists going about their work freely without intimidation, threats or arrest. The country boasts a broad cross-section of media with five daily papers, several periodicals, two commercial television stations, one religious television channel and seven commercial radio stations. The NBC operates ten radio stations and one television station. Community broadcasting is the only media sector that could be considered under- developed. Despite the noted diversity, however, issues that affect the daily lives of citizens are sidelined as the news tends to be dominated by politics. Consumers believe that coverage of issues is usually a reaction to statements and events and that “the media is never really trying to do something new. There is variety but no depth.” Business, economics and analytical reporting were highlighted as areas that are being neglected by the media. Only NBC TV’s ‘Open File’ programme and Insight magazine try to do investigative stories. Media houses need to give journalists the time to investigate stories. The quality of journalism came under fire, with the media being criticized for their biased perspective on news, inaccuracies in stories and the lack of fairness. It is anticipated that these issues will be addressed by in-house training initiatives within certain media institutions, as well as by the establishment of the Media Ombudsman’s office, in line with international practices. The office of the Media Ombudsman was set up in 2009 with support from the Editors Forum of Namibia. In holding the media accountable in terms of the basic principles of good journalistic practice, the public can now initiate formal complaints against the media without having to go to court, which is prohibitively expensive for most people. The Media Ombudsman makes rulings according to a code of ethics that the media sign on to and apply voluntarily. Namibians are vocal on a variety of issues but this is often dependent on their geographical location, cultural norms, the subject matter they are discussing and the medium through which they are communicating. Platforms such as ‘Free Your Mind’, ‘Spoken Word’, ‘Young Achievers’ and ‘Physically Active Youth’ are extremely popular with urban youth, as platforms to speak out on issues that directly affect them. These include concerns such as the lack of job opportunities and the need for recreational activities. Rural youth are less vocal than their urban peers, and would be hesitant to be as vocal even if they were afforded the same opportunities. One reason for this is that they are expected to respect their elders and not speak out against authority. 6 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER NAMIBIA 2011 SMS pages in certain publications are very popular amongst the general public and people tend to be extremely outspoken – likely because they are afforded a certain degree of anonymity.