SADC Media Law: A Handbook for Media Practitioners in South Africa, Malawi, Zimbabwe and Namibia

From the introduction
This report reviews the right to freedom of expression of the mass media in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. The report looks into mass media which refers to the radio and television broadcast media, other electronic media and the print media. The four SADC countries chosen to be surveyed in this report ('the target countries') are Malawi, Namibia, South Africa and Zimbabwe.

It is intended that this report should ultimately be used as a reference resource by journalists and others working in the media and by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) involved in the media sector.

The breakdown of each target country will comprise of the following:

• an overview of the political history and the market structure for broadcast and print media;
• an analysis of the right to freedom of expression as enshrined in each country's constitution;
• an overview of the most important legislation that impacts on the media's right to freedom of expression consisting of, where applicable, legislation
• the most important codes of conduct prescribing standards of conduct for the broadcasting and print media industries;
• the most important regulations impacting on the right to freedom of expression of the media;
• the most important cases impacting on the right to freedom of expression of the media;
• a summary of the interviews with people engaged in the mass media sector,including academics, people working in the public and private broadcasting sectors, journalists in the print media sector, and those working in media organisations and interest groups in the target countries.

"Interviews were conducted in each of the target countries. In most cases a range of people engaged in the mass media sector - including academics, people working in the public and private broadcasting sectors, journalists in the print media sector, and those working in media organisations and interest groups - were interviewed in the target countries."