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Namibia Community Media

Namibia Community Media. Fred J. Mwilima , PhD Department of Information and Communication Studies University of Namibia. Source: NPC, 2007. Introduction. Politically Affiliated media Times of Namibia (DTA) Die Republikein (DTA) Algemeine Zeitung (DTA) Windhoek Advertiser (DTA)

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Namibia Community Media

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  1. Namibia Community Media Fred J. Mwilima, PhD Department of Information and Communication Studies University of Namibia

  2. Source: NPC, 2007

  3. Introduction • Politically Affiliated media • Times of Namibia (DTA) • Die Republikein (DTA) • AlgemeineZeitung (DTA) • Windhoek Advertiser (DTA) • Namibia Today (SWAPO) • Government owned: • The New Era (Government) • NBC TV (Government) • NBC Radio (Government) • Independent media: • The Namibian (Independent) • Windhoek Observer (Independent)

  4. Introduction • Dailies: • AlgemeineZeitung (DHM) • New Era (Government) • Die Republikein (DMH) • The Namibian (Independent) • Weeklies: • Informante • The Windhoek Observer

  5. Introduction • Two-thirds of the population (67%) is rural • The majority relies on subsistence agriculture or herding. • Food insecurity for these populations is a major problem, given Namibia’s vast deserts and arid climate. • The country also has a high unemployment rate, estimated at 37 percent.

  6. Media Landscape • The landscape of the Namibian media at the country’s independence on 21 March 1990 provides us with a landmark from which we can assess the progress that has been made so far. • In 1990, there were 8 newspapers that gave an extra parliamentary voice to the spectrum of political current in the country. • With only two that were independent, political parties owned the majority of these newspapers.

  7. Media Landscape • These newspapers were expected to maintain a lively and constructive debate on national issues, and nurture a democratic culture in Namibian. • But can they? • Involvement of politicians • Involvement of g & and the government • Monopoly of media by individuals • May be perceived as a threatand would potentially stifle constructive debate or at worst, muzzle distant and alternative voices.

  8. Media Landscape • These media dominate landscape • The AlgemeineZeitung • New Era • Die Republikein • The Namibian • Namibia Economist (weekly) • All of which are Windhoek based.

  9. Community Media • In November 2000, conference on the advancement of community broadcasting was held. • Resolution: • The establishment of community radios should be encouraged and should be participatory, community owned and controlled. • The conference decided community media should be: • Sensitive to community needs and aspirations • To become centres of development initiatives for the community • To provide information and feedback to the community it serves • To address community issues such as community for social good

  10. Community Media • Since the year 2000, things have changed and currently there are six licensed community media in the country out of which five are Windhoek based. These are: • Channel 7 • Katutura Community Radio (now Base FM) • Live FM • Radio Ecclesia • Unam Radio • WUM Properties

  11. Diversity • In terms of language diversity much still need to be done to reach those who are in dire need for these services. • Of the six radio stations, one of them broadcast in Afrikaans; five in English and one in German. • In terms of ownership, two of these stations, the Catholic Church and the Media for Christ, are owned by religious establishments. • Five are broadcasting within the Windhoek area and one in a small town called Rehoboth. • It is worth noting that two of the stations, Channel 7 and Live FM, simultaneously broadcast in two languages, Afrikaans and Oshiwambo respectively in addition to English.

  12. Listenership • 90% + population listen to radio. • 68% ages of 16 and lower listen to radio • 98% 50 years and over • No loyalty to NBC (59%) • 80% followers of commercial stations • Rural • 67% Radio Energy (private) • NBC 63%

  13. Readership of dailies Unpublished source

  14. Most accessed media Unpublished source

  15. Reach

  16. Challenges • Management • Unam/UNESCO • Finance • Income generation • Personnel • volunteers • Training • Lack skills • Language • Managed by youth-lack mastery skills of local languages • Networking/exposure • Lack networking skills/motivation • Distance • Sparsely populated

  17. I thank you!

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