The 2022 African Media Barometer(AMB) Namibia Report has found that there is a level of solidarity in the news reported in the local media and that the national broadcaster, the Namibia Broadcasting Corporation, is displaying a level of editorial independence.
However, increased instances of harassment of journalists and civil society by the state are a growing concern.
Namibia continues to uphold its reputation as the beacon of media freedom in Africa.
This is evident in the 2022 African Media Barometer, which shows respective indicators scoring relatively well in four different sectors.
These entailed: a legal regulatory framework for freedom of expression and access to information and actual practice of these rights; diversity, independence, and sustainability of the media landscape; legislation and regulation of broadcasting and the internet; as well as the quality of media; working conditions; and safety of journalists.
Despite positive developments, the report also highlighted key negative media developments over the past four years, such as the detrimental impact of COVID-19 on the media's financial sustainability, the NBC strike and continuing economic woes at the broadcaster, state surveillance of journalists and civil society, as well as the SIM card regulations imposed by CRAN.
Media Academic Emily Brown emphasised some aspects that need strengthening within the media fraternity.
"We have to focus on training as well as HR to assess and evaluate. The other is planning. Where are you headed to?"
Panellists discussing the results say the barometer is a tool to hold citizens accountable, with some highlighting that the media has been compromised over the years and that policy intervention is required to address certain issues.
The issues the panellists pressed on include a lack of access to accurate and factual information as well as the protection of journalists despite their identification.
Dr Audrin Mathe, Executive Director of the Information and Communication Technology Ministry, has indicated that the media can play an important role in telling positive stories about Namibia. He did, however, disagree with some of the report's findings, saying that they contained factual errors.
"For one, it refers to the Ministry of Marginalised Communities, which does not exist. It also refers to the remarks by the Founding President made in 2000 about the LGBTQI community. Furthermore, it incorrectly refers to the National Assembly as the lower house. I don't know where this is coming from."
Among the recommendations made for the next four years is to lobby media houses to update their in-house policies and improve the role of the courts and security officials in strengthening journalism.