Let the people know the facts and the country will be safe. 
– Abraham Lincoln

Africa

Botswana

   

{This graph represents scores that have been modified by CIMA so that higher scores indicate a better media situation. It is intended to show trends over time; each index measures significantly different factors of press freedom. To see an explanation for how this graph was created, click here.}
 

IREX Score: 2.21 [IREX Methodology]
{Higher is Better, Score Ranges from 0 to 4.00}  


IREX Description:

The 2008 Botswana MSI suggested a growing sense in the media community that past gains are slowly eroding. The government of Botswana validated those concerns by signing the Media Practitioners Act (MPA) into law on the last day of December, 2008 despite vehement opposition by journalists, independent media outlets, and civil society bodies both in Botswana and internationally. The act requires journalists to have government accreditation and stipulates that media organizations must be licensed by a statutory media council. Critics argue that the creation of this government statutory body goes directly against the self-regulatory system promoted by the Press Council of Botswana and argue that it poses a threat to Botswana's independent media and freedom of the press generally.

Read more on IREX’s site…

Freedom House Score: 40 (Partly Free) [Freedom House Methodology]
{Lower is Better, Score Ranges from 0 to 100}  


RSF Score: 17.50 [RSF Methodology]
{Lower is Better, Score Ranges from 0 to ~120}  


Committee to Protect Journalists Description: [What is the Committee to Protect Journalists?]

Visit CPJ’s Site for Recent Developments in this Country

IFEX News: [What is IFEX?]

Visit IFEX’s Site for Recent News on Media in this Country