ADVERTISING AND MEDIA Namibia has a vibrant and diverse media landscape, despite its relatively small population and long-distance distribution networks. While infrastructure for data connections continuously improves, the use of online media is still restricted by prohibitive data costs and internet speeds. MEDIA FREEDOM
Namibia retained its position as Africa’s best ranked country for media freedom on the 2020 World Press Freedom Index of Reporters Without Borders, with a ranking of 23rd and a score of 19.25. The index is compiled annually by Reporters Without Borders, a nonprofit organisation that promotes and defends freedom to be informed and to inform others throughout the world. Scores were calculated by analysing 87 criteria in seven categories for 180 countries. Reporters Without Borders pointed out that press freedom in Namibia: ‘… is often defended by the courts when under attack from other quarters within the state or by vested interests.’
TribeFire Studios Media Trends Presentation curated by Think Human Being.
Reporters Without Borders stated that: ‘… the legal framework could be improved by the adoption of a long-promised law on access to stateheld information .” The Access to Information Bill, which was drafted in 2016, is regrettably yet to be enacted. Reporters Without Borders also referred to Namibian journalists and media outlets which: ‘… found themselves under attack in 2019 when their revelations about officials taking bribes in exchange for granting access to Namibia's fishing grounds resulted in the arrests of two ministers and several businessmen …’ Reporters without Borders warned that: ‘… the financial prospects of the privately-owned media and independent news coverage,’ are being threatened by pro-government media getting an ever-larger chunk of the revenue available from advertising.
WINDHOEK DECLARATION
The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting submitted a bid to the United Nations Education and Scientific Organisation (UNESCO) late last year to host the 2021 World Press Freedom Day conference in
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Windhoek. The 2021 conference will coincide with the 30th anniversary of the Windhoek Declaration on Promoting an Independent and Pluralistic African Press which was adopted in the capital on 3 May 1991. The United Nations General Assembly proclaimed World Press Freedom Day in 1993 following a recommendation adopted at the 26th session of UNESCO's General Conference in 1991.
EDITORS FORUM OF NAMIBIA
The Editors Forum of Namibia (EFN) revived the media awards when it hosted an awards ceremony and gala dinner in Windhoek on 3 October 2019 – nine years after the awards were last held under the auspices of the Namibia chapter of the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) in 2010. The event coincided with the International Day for Universal Access to Information. The country’s best journalists in ten categories were recognised for their excellence. The multi-award winning investigative journalist Safa Al Ahmad was the keynote speaker at the event. She had worked with the Saudi journalist Jamal Ahmad Khashoggi who was murdered at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, a year earlier – on 2 October 2018.