• Transparency

Access to Information and Transparency

Forming part of a larger document looking at the development of sustainable media in Africa, this chapter focuses on progress in Malawi. Quantitative baseline scores were obtained and in-depth qualitative studies from a local perspective prepared to explain the numbers.

It is argued that the Malawian media face a number of challenges aggravated by extreme poverty and the contradictions between media-related legislation and practice. The Malawi Communications Regulatory Authority (MACRA) is considered to be poorly managed, participants say that political interference with Malawi Broadcasting Corporation, MACRA, and Television Malawi is destroying editorial independence and fostering widespread self-censorship.

The objectives discussed and some of the comments from participants include:

• freedom of speech - participants state that freedom of expression and media freedom are compromised by certain laws 
• professional journalism - journalists have a desire to report fairly, however, most media organisations in Malawi do not have codes of ethics that are specific to their organisations 
• plurality of news sources - residents of Malawi’s urban centers have better access to public and private news sources. Malawi has more than seven religious radio stations, about five private radio stations, one television station, and a number of newspapers 
• business management - Malawi has limited media outlets and supporting firms, but the existing ones are professional, profit-making businesses. Participants did suggest that media outlets should form networks, so that the various newspapers can print and distribute with the same organisation, as opposed to working in isolation 
• supporting institutions - currently no trade associations in Malawi represent media owners - however, professional associations abound. They include the National Editors’ Forum, the Journalists Union of Malawi, the Lilongwe Press Club, the Mzuzu Press Club, the Kabula Press Club, the Malawi Women Media Association, and the Broadcasters’ Association of Malawi.
  

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