BTV Fails The People:

an analysis of Botswana Television News

By Richard Rooney

Paper presented at a research seminar, Media Studies Department, University of Botswana, Gaborone, 20 March 2014

BTV Fails The People: an analysis of Botswana Television News By Richard Rooney

Abstract The Botswana Government, through a number of its departments and the Office of the President, has since the stations launch in the year 2000 identified a number of aims for the stations news programming. These include the necessity to inform people about events within and outside the country, to interpret such events and whenever possible suggest appropriate approaches to them and to do this by providing balanced, credible and professionally-tailored programmes containing fair and balanced reporting. It must do this while also promoting the policies of the Botswana Government.No substantial research has been undertaken into the programming at BTV (news or otherwise) and this research paper begins to fill the gap in our knowledge. It sets out to answer three broad research questions: (i) what are the self-defined aims of BTV News?; (ii) to what extent are these aims being met through the stations news bulletins?; and (iii) how well does BTV fit the model of public service broadcasting? To answer these questions a survey was made of material published by BTV and Botswana Government departments to establish what its aims are. Once the model for news programming was established a content analysis of 14 news bulletins was undertaken to ascertain (i) the kind of items that were being broadcast and (ii) the sources journalists used in their reports. The BTV aims were interrogated by the data from the content analysis and it was concluded that most aims were not met. This is followed by a discussion identifying the main characteristics of public service broadcasting (PSB) in which it is concluded that BTV is not a PSB broadcaster. Key words: Botswana television, BTV, television, democracy, public service broadcasting

Introduction In theory, news on television can give space to people who do not have a place to air their views. But for this to work the reports that appear on television need to be of high quality, relevant and useful to the audience. Television needs to allow the expression of a full range of opinions and matters of public concern. This paper explores the extent to which Botswana Television (BTV) allows this to happen BTV is the main television channel in Botswana and is the only one that broadcasts local news to the population of the country. It is owned and controlled by the state (Balule, 2013, pp.86-87). 1

The Botswana Government, through a number of its departments and the Office of the President, has since the stations launch in the year 2000 identified a number of aims for the stations news programming. These include the necessity to inform people about events within and outside the country, to interpret such events and whenever possible suggest appropriate approaches to them and to do this by providing balanced, credible and professionally-tailored programmes containing fair and balanced reporting. It must do this while also promoting the policies of the Botswana Government. No substantial research has been undertaken into the programming at BTV (news or otherwise) and this research paper begins to fill the gap in our knowledge. It sets out to answer three broad research questions: (i) what are the self-defined aims of BTV News?; (ii) to what extent are these aims being met through the stations news bulletins ?; and (iii) how well does BTV fit the model of public service broadcasting? To answer these questions a survey was made of material published by BTV and Botswana Government departments to establish what its aims are. Once the model for news programming was established a content analysis of 14 news bulletins was undertaken to ascertain (i) the kind of items that were being broadcast and (ii) the sources journalists used in their reports. The BTV aims were interrogated by the data from the content analysis and it was concluded that most aims were not met. This is followed by a discussion identifying the main characteristics of public service broadcasting (PSB) in which it is concluded that BTV is not a PSB broadcaster. Media landscape in Botswana BTV is the largest television station in the country, but it does not transmit across the whole nation, reaching only about 40 percent of the population. BTV is also available via the satellite subscription services, DSTV, and can thus theoretically be accessed by viewers with a satellite dish and DSTV decoder throughout the country (African Media Barometer, 2011, pp.46-47). The only other free-to-air television station, eBotswana, a relation of e.tv in South Africa, is broadcast in the capital city, Gaborone and the surrounding area. eBotswana, previously the Gaborone Broadcasting Company, relaunched in 2010 and now states its vision is to be the television channel of choice as well as the best source of entertainment in the country (eBotswana website). Its schedule is dominated by foreign programming , which it says includes, Hollywood blockbuster movies that have proven to be a major hit amongst our viewers . However, to grow and nurture local talent , eBotswana has also produced local shows, not only serve to provide viewers with locally produced programs but also helps empower the Botswana Television Industry (ibid).

Although the media landscape is dominated by government controlled media in both print and broadcasting, there are significant numbers of private media, especially in the print sector, with a reasonable degree of diversity and independence (Rooney, 2012; Fombad 2011, p.18). In the broadcasting sector there are two state-owned national radio stations; three national privately-owned and eight foreign stations in Botswana (IREX 2010). Botswana TV: its aims as seen by itself and the government The purpose of this research paper is to examine BTVs stated aims on news and current affairs programming and to examine empirically the product the station actually broadcasts. In this way it will be possible to come to a conclusion about how well BTV is meeting its aims. BTV and Radio Botswana 1 and 2 are run as government departments, within the Office of the President, with staff hired by the Directorate of Public Service Management, as is the case with all government employees. Therefore, the state broadcaster is not accountable to the public (African Media Barometer, 2011, pp.43-44). This means, according to the African Media Barometer, that in effect BTV is run as an organ of the government and there is no legislation to guarantee the stations editorial independence from political influence. Before coming under the present Department of Broadcasting Services, which is a division of the Office of the President, BTV was part of the Department of Information and Broadcasting (DIB). The aims of the station date from the days of DIB. The DIB said the station committed itself to provide at least 60 percent local content to meet the diverse needs of Batswana (the people of Botswana) According to its guiding principles, the station was upbeat and forward looking, and sought to align its strategy with the national vision, Vision 2016 (see below). It recognized that the majority of Batswana were young people, and that Botswana had diverse cultural and language groups. It also recognized that Botswana was part of an integrated global village and had to compete effectively (Dept. of Information and Broadcasting website). It also said that the role of the DIB was to use BTV to mobilize Batswana towards national development, to inform them about events within and outside the country, to interpret such events and whenever possible suggest appropriate approaches to them. The department also educates and entertains citizens in accordance with national development goals and interests. DIB said it executed editorial policy in line with its role as a public service media charged with the responsibility of promoting policies of the government. The department is hence, dedicated to the provision of objective, balanced, credible and professionally-tailored programmes and publications.

The Standards and Values of Botswana TV stated that Botswana TV aspires to produce work to the highest standards of professionalism. Programmes must be impartial and informative (BTV Standards and Values website). In a seeming contradiction to the DIBs stated role to mobilize Batswana towards national development, BTV itself regarded its programming policy as attempt[ing] to cover most genres, but the emphasis at first must be on sports, news music and talk shows (ibid). However, possibly with the departments mandate of national development in mind BTV stated its task was to celebrate and develop the civic values that the nation hold common, while reflecting and enjoying the diversity of culture within Botswana (ibid). The commitment of BTV News was stated as to giving you fair, accurate and balanced reporting. In line with the country's Vision 2016, BTV News aims at ensuring that Batswana are properly informed, educated and become innovative. It stated, There is no doubt in our minds that BTV News is perhaps the most watched show in the station. So to those who wonder about editorial independence and integrity we say, watch us and judge for yourself for indeed the proof of the pudding is in the eating (BTV News Striving for the Truth website). A statement from the (unnamed) Director Department of Broadcasting that formed the introductory page to the Botswana TV website appeared to have been written at or about the time of the stations launch in 2000. It said the most basic benefit in introducing the nations own TV service was that the, people of Botswana had never really seen themselves in the manner they perceive themselves (BTV from the Director website). From the information supplied on the various webpages we can conclude that according to BTVs own interpretation of its aim, the following statements represent the stations commitments to news and current affairs programming. 1. News and current affairs are to inform Batswana about events within and outside the country, to interpret such events and whenever possible suggest appropriate approaches to them. 2. BTV executes editorial policy in line with its role as a public service media charged with the responsibility of promoting policies of the government. 3. BTV is dedicated to the provision of objective, balanced, credible and professionallytailored programmes. 4. BTV programmes must be impartial and informative. 5. BTV News aims to broadcast fair, accurate and balanced reporting. In line with the countrys Vision 2016, BTV News aims at ensuring that Batswana are properly informed, educated and become innovative. Vision 2016 In addition to BTVs interpretation of its own aims, it is instructive to also consider the aspirations of the people of Botswana in regard to what the television station might deliver. 4

Vision 2016 is a document published as the result of deliberations of a Presidential Task Force, which started its work in January 1997. The Task Group conducted extensive consultation with a wide cross-section of individuals and institutions in Botswana. The views and ideas in Vision 2016 are said to reflect as closely as possible the aspirations of Batswana about their long term future (Vision 2016 website, p.1). Vision 2016 stated that regarding Botswanas communication capacity, particularly in the electronic media, radio and television, Batswana will be informed about the rest of the world. Vision 2016 aspired that, all Batswana will have access to the media through national and local radio, television and newspapers (Vision 2016 website, p.7). Vision 2016 predicted, The society of Botswana by the year 2016 will be free and democratic, a society where information on the operations of Government, private sector and other organisations is freely available to all citizens. There will be a culture of transparency and accountability (ibid). Vision 2016 stated, The challenge is to ensure access of all families to information technology, television, audio and print media, and to further develop an environment conducive to the free flow of information among all of the communities of Botswana (Vision 2016 website, pp. 17-18). The African Media Barometer 2011 There is next to no research available regarding audience attitudes to BTV programming. The only easily-available material was published by the African Media Barometer (AMB) (2011). AMB describes itself as, an in-depth and comprehensive description and measurement system (African Media Barometer, 2011, p.2). It is an analytical exercise to measure the media situation in a given country. Every two to three years a panel of 10-12 experts, consisting of at least five media practitioners and five representatives from civil society, meets to assess the media situation in their own country. The AMB confirmed that BTV was a state run and state-controlled broadcaster. AMB commented, When the state directs its own organ to do something, it is not seen as interference. The state is simply operating its own machinery. State House is known to give directives to the state broadcaster about what topics to cover and not to cover (African Media Barometer, 2011, pp.45-46). The AMB reported it was common knowledge that government can stop or delay the news bulletin to serve its own interests, although an advertiser would not have this kind of control. BTV is funded wholly by a budget drawn from taxpayers. Money made by the broadcaster through advertising or sponsorship goes directly into state coffers (see also Balule, 2013, p.91). The state broadcaster does not serve the public interest, but that of the state. Some AMB panellists felt that the state was not funding the state broadcaster adequately since BTV, for example, is failing to meet its quota of airing 60 percent local content. 5

As a state broadcaster, its funding is already infiltrated. The state is adequately funding the state broadcaster, so it has control over it, including its editorial content. This funding does not protect it from arbitrary political interference (African Media Barometer, 2011, pp.4546). The AMB reported that state television, BTV, continues to push a very one-sided viewpoint (that of government/the ruling party) and it has many repeat programmes and not much diversity. Panellists said BTVs programming is described by viewers as boring and lacking in creativity (African Media Barometer, 2011, p.48). Some 90 percent of BTVs local offerings are talking heads as the station rarely goes into the field to interview people. This could be attributed to stifling of programme content in order to stick to what has been approved and agreed upon prior to airing. The AMB report said, People in rural areas and those from low income groups do not watch BTV because they feel it is not relevant to them. The news on both state radio and television is particularly unbalanced and single-sourced (ibid). Generally, there is little balance in news and current affairs offered by the state radio and television services, as opposition parties and viewpoints are not given the same platform as the ruling party, which dominates the airwaves. There is also misleading information and propaganda broadcast on BTV and RB 1 and 2. BTV News was reportedly given an instruction from State House in 2010 to cover only the president and the vice president as, they talk about issues of national interest (African Media Barometer, 2011, p. 49). Sometimes state media journalists have good intentions, as it is traumatising from the inside, but you cant strike your stomach. AMB reported this has led to a general lack of confidence by Batswana in the state broadcaster, resulting in a lot of people not watching or listening to these services (ibid). The quota for different programming by BTV is reportedly 20 percent local news, 30 percent local programming, 10 percent local interviews and 40 percent foreign programming. There is local content on the national broadcaster, but this is not very diverse or creative, especially on BTV. The state television service has a budget of P2million to procure local content, but this is not sufficient and would only pay for two 24-minute programmes, and not, for example, a 13-episode local series (African Media Barometer, 2011, p.50; see also Ditlhokwa, 2014). It is argued that BTV, was always meant to be a political mouthpiece of the ruling party, for its own political gain, and that even if local producers find their own funding, BTV is still reluctant to air the programmes (African Media Barometer, 2011, p.50).

Content analysis of bulletins To examine the contents of BTV News, a total of 14 bulletins were surveyed over a period starting 6 January 2013 and ending 15 March 2013. The occurrence of news is not evenly spread across the week. For example, law courts and government offices tend not to operate at weekends and more sporting events take place on Saturday than any other day of the week. Therefore, one might assume it is less likely that political news will happen and be reported at the weekend when in turn there will be greater opportunities to report sporting activities on Saturday and Sunday. To try to minimise bias due to the uneven spread of news occurrences across the week, the 14 days chosen consisted of two bulletins from each day of the week. A purposive sample was used in selecting the dates: that is bulletins were chosen at random until the required total was achieved. Botswana TV News (English version) runs each day Monday to Sunday and is aired at 20.00 hrs. It is scheduled to fit a 30 minute time slot, but in practice during the survey period the programme ran for between 20 and 25 minutes. The remaining time in the 30-minute slot was taken up with advertising and / or previews of forthcoming programmes. The news bulletin had a set running order that never changed during the research period. It ran as follows: welcome and news headlines read by announcer; news reports from within Botswana; foreign news reports; stock market and currency reports (Monday to Friday only); sports news; closing headlines read by announcer. The total number of reports broadcast in a bulletin varied between nine and 13. As Table 1 shows, of these the number of news reports from within Botswana ran between three and seven. In 10 of the 14 bulletins 50 percent or fewer of the items broadcast were from news reports from Botswana.

Table 1: Number of news items originating in Botswana Date (all 2013) Sun 6 Jan Mon 7 Jan Tues 8 Jan Weds 9 Jan Tues 10 Jan Fri 11 Jan Sat 12 Jan Mon 14 Jan Sun 20 Jan Weds 27 Feb Tues 5 Mar Thurs 7 Mar Sat 9 Mar Fri 15 Mar TOTALS Source: Author No of local news items 4 3 6 4 4 5 5 5 4 5 7 7 7 6 72 Total No of items in bulletin 9 10 12 11 11 11 10 11 13 12 11 11 10 11 153

Reports from within Botswana typically consisted of the studio announcer reading an introduction to the report followed by a reporter (rarely himself or herself seen on camera) presenting a voice-over report. There was little attempt to present the report visually. A typical report would consist of a summary of an organised event that took place (for example, a press conference, a workshop, a commemorative event of some description). Dominant in the report would be a speaker addressing a gathering through a microphone. The camera would cut away to faces in the audience from time to time. However, it was obvious that the cutaways were not contemporaneous; that is the audience were not filmed reacting to the words spoken to them, the shots appeared to be general footage of the audience that was then cut into an edited report presumably in an to attempt to add some life to the report. Other reports that were not from an organised event would typically consist of a person (usually a spokesperson for a government department or an organisation of some kind) speaking to camera. Rarely, were there reports that had ordinary people (here defined as people who did not appear to be speaking on behalf of an organisation) at their centre. During the research period only eight reports (of a total of 72 from within Botswana) were of this type. In all occasions reporters were not shown asking questions. In the case of the public events, the speakers words were shot during their speech to the gathering. No one -on-one interview between journalist and subject was ever conducted. This was true, even when technical problems (for example, feedback in the amplifiers) distorted what the speaker was saying to their audience.

In this way, reporters never took the opportunity to ask supplementary questions of the speaker or hold them to account on matters that might have been controversial. In the times when a person being reported was not at an organised event, but simply speaking to a camera, no attempt was made to show the involvement of the reporter. It is to be supposed that the subject was responding to a question from the journalist before making their response. However, there were no supplementary questions asked by the reporter and reporter and subject did not engage in dialogue of any sort. Often, the subject (at organised events or in comments to the camera) spoke in a language other than English. BTV News made minimal efforts to translate this for an English-only speaking audience, making it difficult for them to fully understand what was being said in the report. This could even be the case when the person speaking was an official spokesperson for government or a business entity and (one supposes) would have been able to give their comments in English if requested by the reporter. Foreign news consisted entirely of agency reports. BTV News does not have its own correspondents outside the country. The studio announcer would read brief reports based on agency reports and filmed inserts supplied by the agency would be shown. The Botswana Stock Market and currency report was read out by the announcer. It consisted entirely of share prices supplied by Botswana Stock Market and foreign currency prices supplied by the Bank of Botswana. No analysis of the data was given (beyond saying the prices had moved up or down and by how much). During the whole survey period these prices consisted of the only news about business that was broadcast, apart from where businesses were involved in donating to charity or some other social responsibility activity. Sports news consisted of two types: (i) reports on sporting events that had taken place or were about to take place, and (ii) reports on the activities of sporting organisations. Some of those sports reports originating from within Botswana were indistinguishable from the general news from Botswana. For example, during the survey period there were separate reports about Botswana athletics, football, softball coaching and boxing that were based on organised events such as press conferences and mainly consisted of officials talking about some initiative they wished to be publicised. It was rare to see any action footage of sporting events that had taken place within Botswana. The exception to this was on one Saturday when footage of that day s soccer matches was shown. The only action footage shown in the survey period came from foreign sporting events (for example, the Dakar Rally and Australian Open Tennis). This paper concerns itself with the news items about Botswana broadcast on the bulletins. Appendix 1 breaks down the local news items from each bulletin and gives a brief description of each and identifies the main source or sources of information for each.

Table 2 demonstrates that the local news items on BTV News are dominated by official state sources, such as the government. A total of 29.1 percent came directly from government ministries and / or the President and Vice President of Botswana. These included a statement (uncontested by the journalist) from the President that poor public services would be a thing of the past and a report on a retreat organised by the Department of Youth, Sport and Culture to discuss its development plan. A further 9.7 percent came from local government and political parties, including a response to farmers complaining about a local councils decision banning them from growing cattle fodder. Of the three items about political parties, two were from the ruling BDP, one of which was a report on the BDPs Womens Wings dinner . Combined, these politicallyoriented items accounted for 38.8 percent of local news items. No other source category came close to is. Items from parastatals (7 percent) and the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) contributed a further 9.8 percent of sources. The BDF reports concerned a local littler clean-up campaign. The forces of law and order (police, prison service, law courts) contributed 12.5 percent of sources. These included reports on heavy traffic over the Christmas / New Year holiday period, road accidents and a prison escape. The above statistics suggest that journalists on BTV seem to over-rely on official voices (politicians and other representatives of the state) for their local news sources. There are other voices heard on BTV news, but like the official state voices these also tend to represent power. For example, businesses (such as diamond mining and tourism: two major drivers of the Botswana economy representing economic power) accounted for 11.1 percent of sources. The main thrust of these items was that companies were acting in sociallyresponsible ways to local communities, for example Majwe Mining donating clothes to poor children. Ordinary people are not entirely overlooked by BTV News, but in the research period there were only eight local news items out of a total 72 (11.1 percent) that originated with them. The news items included people complaining about one thing or another (e.g. farmers criticising local stores for not buying their produce; parents worried that shops did not have enough stocks of school uniforms ahead of the start of the school year; road traffic fines). They also included two items that identified children who were trapped by poverty: one included children who were unable to attend school because they had responsibilities at home as care givers; the other was about a child trapped by poverty: both appeared to be poorly concealed appeals for charity.

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Table 2 Main source of information for local news stories: consolidated figures Source type Govt department or ministers President or Vice President Local councils Political parties Botswana Defence Force Parastatals National organisations Hospital management Police / prison service Law courts Workshops / conferences Businesses Ordinary people Miscellaneous, not included above TOTALS Source: Author No of times appearing 14 7 4 3 2 5 2 2 7 2 3 8 8 5 72 Percentage of total (figures rounded) 19.4 9.7 5.5 4.2 (38.8) 2.8 7.0 2.8 2.8 (15.4) 9.7 2.8 (12.5) 4.2 11.1 11.1 7.0

Analysis of BTV News stated aims The data collected in the content analysis allow us to test BTVs stated aims for its news programming. As discussed above, BTV News has five main aims for news and current affairs programming. Below is a discussion that tests each of BTVs aims against the data gathered in the content analysis. Aim 1: To inform Batswana about events within and outside the country, to interpret such events and whenever possible suggest appropriate approaches to them. Comment: BTV has no journalists operating outside the country and its foreign news is supplied entirely by international news agencies. Therefore, BTV is unable to interpret these events, nor offer appropriate approaches to them. Also, BTV is limited in its reporting from inside Botswana. In 10 of the 14 bulletins 50 percent or fewer of the items broadcast were from news reports from Botswana. The local news that is reported privileges the voices of those with political and economic power over the ordinary people. The sources of the majority of news reports in the bulletins seem to be organized or staged events to which the media are invited (sometimes the only purpose of the event is to impart information to the media). This raises questions about the way the government dominates the 11

news agenda and who else within Botswana is allowed to communicate through the TV station. We should be interested in the relationship between journalists and their sources because everyone should have equal access to the media. We should be concerned with relations between the media and those who have political and ideological power and especially institutions that seek to define and manage the flow of information in contested fields of discourse (Schlesinger 1990, pp.62-66). The traditional liberal pluralist view has it that in a democracy the media reflects a wide range of opinions and interests in society. That position is contested by Hall et al (1980) who argue that people in powerful positions are able to over access the media and become primary definers of the news because journalists faithfully reproduce what they say and thus reinforce the existing structure of power in society. The primary definers are allowed to set the agenda and others with opposing views have to insert themselves into its definition of what is at issue. In this way, Hall argues, the dominant ideology of the ruling elite is transmitted by the media (Hall et al 1980, p.58). Generally, reports on BTV News are presented at face value. Reporters tend not to ask questions that require people in positions of power to justify their statements or actions. Reporters tend to receive information from a single source and re-present it unquestioningly in reports. In most of the stories in the survey, the reporter made little attempt to gather additional information, not even to get a balancing quote in the case of a story about a matter of controversy. Nor do journalists tend to give background information to the stories, even those running from day to day. They seem to have no institutional memory and are unable to draw on information from their own archives to put stories into context. On a simple logistical level BTV does not inform Batswana about events inside and outside the country because technically it is not capable of reaching the whole population and people in rural areas do not see the station as having relevance to their needs (African Media Barometer, 2011, p. 48). Aim 2: The department also executes editorial policy in line with its role as a public service media charged with the responsibility of promoting policies of the government. Comment: BTV promotes the policies of the government, but this is done to the exclusion of almost all opposition voices. This is especially so on matters of controversy. It is difficult for this research to properly analyse BTVs news agenda, because only those stories the station chooses to broadcast are visible. The researcher and the viewer have no idea what news BTV has chosen not to broadcast. There is evidence that BTV censors news that is unfavourable to government. AMB has said, State house is known to give directives to the state broadcaster about what topics to cover and not to cover, and that government can stop or delay the news bulletin to serve its own interests (African Media Barometer, 2011, p.45). The Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), Botswana chapter, in its annual review of media freedom in the country in 2011, came to a similar conclusion. It described BTV reporting during a long-running strike by public sector trade unions as unashamed propaganda for the government. The viewers [of BTV] were treated to one side of the story

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as government literally dominated the airwaves and never broadcast the point of view of the unions (Ndhlovu, 2012, p.42). It was clear during the strike that whoever was in control believed the thousands of Batswana workers who were on a legal strike did not deserve to be heard by the rest of the citizens (Ndhlovu, 2012, p.43). Freedom House has reported the government occasionally censors or otherwise restricts news sources or stories that it finds undesirable . It gives the example of coverage in 2010 of the split in the ruling Botswana Democratic Party (BDP) and the resulting formation of the Botswana Movement for Democracy (BMD) party that was conspicuously absent from state-run radio and television broadcasts, and journalists were discouraged from interviewing BMD leaders (Freedom House, 2012). BTVs role as a public service media is not clearly defined. This has been interpreted (see Ndhlovu, 2012, p.43; Balule, 2013) to mean a public service broadcaster. If this is the case BTV fails on a number of levels that will be discussed below. Aim 3: The department is dedicated to the provision of objective, balanced, credible and professionally-tailored programmes and publications. Comment: BTV News bulletins are not objective or balanced and therefore are not credible. Journalists overly-rely on people in power as sources of information. The number of people appearing in most news items is limited in number and views in opposition to government are not aired. Journalists do not behave professionally as they do not hold people to account. They do not question the people they report on, instead allowing them to make claims unhindered. Even in matters of controversy, such as the report from the Presidents Office that poor public services would be a thing of the past (broadcast 11 January 2013), there is no counterbalancing argument. Journalists at BTV News also fail the professional test by being incapable of telling a story visually and using editing techniques that are commonly used in newsrooms across the world. The lack of capacity of some media practitioners in Botswana is recognised by journalists themselves, who see them operating as public relations people for the powerful, (Ntibinyane, 2014) or ignoring facts in favour of their own prejudiced news angles (Molefhe, 2008). Aim 4: Programmes must be impartial and informative. Comment: This aim seems to repeat that covered in aim 3 (above). The choice of news items to broadcast and the restricted voices that are allowed to speak demonstrate that the news is not impartial. What information that is broadcast is directed towards news and views that the government wishes to be broadcast, rather than impartial information that might help viewers better understand the state of their country.

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One of the traits of journalism in Botswana (print included) is its unwillingness to produce stories that contain a balance of views within them. Instead, journalists opt for revisiting stories over a period of time, introducing new elements and different views in each new episode. In this way committed viewers or readers might be able to piece together the disparate elements of the story into a comprehensible whole. But, each new episode tends to include only one source, thus there is no balance of views or attempt at interrogation of the powerful. This demonstrates a lack of capacity among Botswanas journalists to perform one of their vital roles within a democracy which is to examine what government is and is not doing and to provide the public with information, comment, analysis, criticism and alternative views. Aim 5: To give fair, accurate and balanced reporting. In line with the countrys Vision 2016, BTV News aims at ensuring that Batswana are properly informed, educated and become innovative. Comment: This aim has similar characteristics to aim three and four (above). It is correct that Vision 2016 aspires to see Botswana as a culture of transparency and accountability. (Vision 2016 website, p.7), but the evidence from the bulletins suggests that neither of these exist. BTV and its government controllers do not explain what they mean when they want to see Batswana become innovative. One might speculate that this is somehow related to giving viewers news and information that they could use in some unspecified way in their daily lives to improve their own situations. However, it would be impossible to identify an item in any of the news bulletins examined in this research that could be said to meet this need. BTV and Public service broadcasting BTV does not make the explicit claim to be a public service broadcaster, but many of its stated aspirations at least imply that this might be its intention (Balule, 2013). Therefore, it is useful here, to explore the model of public service broadcasting and to demonstrate that it does not exist in Botswana. Sometimes among broadcasters there can be confusion about what are the differences between a public broadcasting service and a public service broadcaster. In simple terms a public broadcasting service is a service that is broadcast to the public. This can include radio and television that is state-controlled, commercial broadcasting, church broadcasting, national stations, local stations and community stations. It is a generic term and includes all forms of broadcasting that reaches an audience. Even very small stations such as the stations that broadcast exclusively to one chain of shops, which play music and commercials advising customers of the bargains of the day (such as you hear in some supermarkets) could be called a public broadcasting service (Rooney, 2013). Meanwhile, public service broadcasting is a very specific form of public broadcasting service. It aims to inform, educate and entertain in a way in which the commercial or state sector left unregulated would not do. Generally, it is understood that public service 14

broadcasters air a wide range of programmes in a variety of tastes and interests. They speak to everyone as a citizen and everyone has an opportunity to access the airways and participate in public life (Balule, 2013, p.81). The World Radio and Television Council put it well when it defined public service broadcasting as a meeting place where all citizens are welcome and considered equals. It is an information and education tool, accessible to all and meant for all, whatever their social or economic status (Rooney 2013). As Rooney (2006) has stated, today, there is a wide geopolitical consensus that political systems should exist to provide opportunities for all the people to influence government and practice (DFID 2001) and that the media reinforce or foster this kind of democracy (Price and Krug, 2002, p.3). To engage effectively there is an assumption that access to information is the first requirement for an engaged, participative democracy (Roth, 2001, p.13). An active citizenry will help prevent governmental excesses and breed trust in the democratic system, thereby enabling the private media to perform their functions (Tetty, 2003, p.28) and the media are the major mechanisms by which citizens are informed about the world (Sparks, 1993). There are specific public interest political goals which the media can be used to serve, including the following: informing the public, public enlightenment, social criticism and exposing government arbitrariness, national integration and political education. But the more the media serve the narrow self-interest the less able they are to serve the other group of public interests (Ojo, 2003, pp.829-830). Public service programming fulfils some of the criteria necessary for democratic participation. Public service programming aims vary from country to country but there is a core of common features that are universally valid. Public service broadcasting is broadcasting made for the public, financed by the public and controlled by the public. Generally, the public is the entire population of the country and ideally means every household in the service area should be in a position to receive the programme service. Programming should be in the fields of information, entertainment and education for people of all ages and social groups. It plays an active role in presenting and promoting national culture and can contribute to strengthening notions of identity and community and establish adequate interaction between citizens and their immediate wider communities (Rumphorst, 2003, pp.73-74; Yaakob, 2003, p.96). Broadcasting has a role as a partner in development as it can help to mobilise people who are directly affected by a community condition (that is, the victims, the unaffiliated, the unrecognised, and the non-participating) into groups and organisations to enable them to take action on the social problems and issues that concern them. For community development to take place, the people must first be conscious of and open to changes for development (Dy, 2004). People have a right to express their needs and concerns, in development programmes and across society and government. At an operational level, fulfilling peoples rights to speak 15

about problems with service delivery will improve service provision. More fundamentally, communication can help create open and responsive government (Burke, 1999). But, public service broadcasters should be neutral towards all parties, providing facts, education and entertainment to the people, and not serve as the mouthpiece of those in power (Samuon, p.106). BTV meets none of the conditions to be a public service broadcaster. It does not air a range of programmes in a variety of tastes and interests. It does not treat the citizens of Botswana as equals, affording access to the airwaves to all. Instead, it privileges the Botswana Government and those in powerful positions in society. BTV does not attempt to achieve public interest political goals which would include informing and enlightening the public. Nor does it allow space for social criticism or to expose the arbitrariness of government. Conclusion This paper has concluded that on the evidence of what BTV News broadcasts in its daily bulletins it is not fulfilling the aims it has been set by itself and the government which include the necessity to inform people about events within and outside the country, to interpret such events and whenever possible suggest appropriate approaches to them and to do this by providing balanced, credible and professionally-tailored programmes containing fair and balanced reporting. It has also concluded that BTV News does not fit the model of a public service broadcasting provider. There remains an unanswered question. Why did BTV News set these aims in the first place? We might speculate that in Botswana it is not in the interests of the ruling party (the Botswana Democratic Party since the country gained its independence from Britain in 1966) to allow the airwaves to be used by those who might wish to criticise it. With no real alternative local television station in Botswana, the government holds the monopoly for television news and probably has no real desire to see the airwaves democratised. There is no strong advocacy within Botswana for large scale change in its broadcasting landscape and despite the existence of press freedom advocates such as the Press Council of Botswana and the Media Institute of Southern Africa the government is under no pressure to make changes in this regard.

References African Media Barometer (2011) Botswana, Windhoek: Friedrich-Ebert-Stiftung . Balule, B.B. (2013) Public Service Broadcasters or Government Mouthpieces An Appraisal of Public Service Broadcasting in Botswana , Scripted 10(1) [Internet], 77-92. Available from http://www.script-ed.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/balule.pdf [Accessed 5 March 2014]. 16

Burke, A. (1999) Communications and Development: a Practical Guide, London: Department for International Development. Department for International Development (2001) Making Government Work for Poor People: Building State Capability. Strategies for achieving the international development targets. London: DFID. Ditlhokwa, B. G. (2014) The Dilemma of Local Content: the Case of Botswana Television (Btv). In Rooney, R. ed. The Botswana Media Studies Papers. Gaborone, Department of Media Studies, University of Botswana. Available at http://www.scribd.com/doc/206895870/The-Botswana-Media-Studies-Papers-Vol-1 [Accessed 17 February 2014]. Dy, M. (2004) Impact of New & Old Media on Development in Asia, 13th AMIC Annual Conference, 1-3 July 2004, Bangkok, Thailand. Fombad, C. (2011) Media Law in Botswana, London: Kluwer Law International. Freedom House (2012) Freedom of the Press 2012 Botswana. New York: Freedom House Available at http://www.freedomhouse.org/report/freedom-press/2012/botswana [Accessed 10 February 2014]. Hall, S., Chrichter, C., Jefferson, T., Clarke, J. and Roberts, B. (1978) Policing the Crisis: Mugging, the State, and Law and Order, London: Macmillan. IREX. (2010) Media Sustainability Index, Botswana. Available at http://www.irex.org/resource/botswana-media-sustainability-index-msi [Accessed 19 March 2012]. Molefhe, R. (2008) Challenges of Botswana Jjournalism, Mmegi online, 18 July Available at http://www.mmegi.bw/index.php?sid=1&aid=24&dir=2008/July/Friday18 [Accessed 17 February 2014]. Ndhlovu, T. (2012) National Overview, Botswana . In: MISA ed. So This Democracy? Windhoek: Media Institute of Southern Africa. Ntibinyane, N. (2014) BTV interview with Khama was a PR exercise, Midweek Sun, 22January, p.4. Ojo, E. O. (2003) The Mass media and the challenges of sustainable democratic values in Nigeria: possibilities and limitations. Media, Culture & Society, 25 (6), 821-840. Price, M. and P. Krug (2002) The Enabling Environment for Free and Independent Media, Washington: USAID.
Rooney, R. (2006) Revitializing Radio With Community Emphasis, In: Banejee I. and Seneviratne K, eds., Public Service Broadcasting in the Age of Globalization, Singapore: Asian Media Information and Communication Centre / Nanyang Technological University.

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Rooney, R. (2013) Swaziland: Broadcasting is not for the People . Swazi Media Commentary Occasional Paper, No 2. Available at http://www.scribd.com/doc/123306571/Swaziland-Broadcasting-Not-For-The-People [Accessed 17 February 2014]. Roth, C. (2001) The Media in Governance: a guide to assistance. Developing Free and effective media to serve the interests of the poor. London: Department for International Development. Rumphorst, W. (2003) What is Public Service Broadcasting? In: S. Eashwar, ed. Responses to Globalization and the Digital Divide in the Asia Pacific. Samuon, D. (2003) Public Service Broadcasting Partners for Development . In: S. Eashwar, ed. Responses to Globalization and the Digital Divide in the Asia Pacific. Kuala Lumpur: Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting, Schlesinger, P. (1990) Rethinking the Sociology of Journalism: Source Strategies a nd the Limits of Media Centrism. In: Public Communications, the New Imperatives, M. Ferguson, M. ed. London: Sage. Sparks, C. (1991) Goodbye Hildy Johnson, the Vanishing Serious Press, In: Communications and Citizenship, Dahlgren, P. and Sparks, C. eds., London: Routledge. Tetty, W. J. (2003) The Media and Democratization in Africa: contributions, constraints and concerns of the private press. Media, Culture & Society, 23(1), 531. Yaakob, K. (2003) PSB in the Asia-Pacific. In: S. Eashwar, ed. Responses to Globalization and the Digital Divide in the Asia Pacific. Kuala Lumpur: Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting, Websites BTV From the Director. Available at http://www.btv.gov.bw/from_the_director.html [Accessed 13 March 2013]. BTV News Striving for the Truth. Available at http://www.btv.gov.bw/news.html [Accessed 13 March 2013]. BTV Standards and Values Available at http://www.btv.gov.bw/guiding_principles.html [Accessed 13 March 2013]. eBotswana. Available at http://www.ebotswana.co.bw/about.html [Accessed 10 February 2014.] Dept. of Information and Broadcasting, Botswana, available at http://www.dib.gov.bw/ Accessed 13 March 2013. Vision 2016, available at url http://www.vision2016.co.bw/visionpublications.php?flag=news Accessed 17 February 2014. 18

About the author Richard Rooney is an associate professor and head of the Department of Media Studies at the University of Botswana, Gaborone. He has taught in universities in Europe, Africa and the Pacific. His research, which specialises in media and their contribution to democracy and good governance, has been published in books and academic journals across the world. Suggested citation Rooney, R. (2014) BTV Fails The People: an analysis of Botswana Television News , Research Seminar, Media Studies Department, University of Botswana, 20 March 2014, Gaborone, Botswana.

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Appendix 1 News sources for the Botswana News items 1 Sunday 6 January 2013 Item New mayor elected Parents rush to buy school uniforms before schools reopen Police shoot and injure man Heavy traffic over holiday period 2 Monday 7 January 2013 Secondary schools reopen Magistrates court orders committal in murder case BDP (government party) statement on MPs who change political parties 3 Tuesday 8 January 2013 Government schools reopen poor exam results last term Farmers complain about local council decision banning growing of cattle fodder Primary school exam results published late Seven prisoners escape Well-known musician dies Outbreak of African Army Worm 4 Wednesday 9 January 2013 More Batswana people are holidaying within Botswana Delay in publishing school exam results 30 die in road accidents during holiday period Children cant go to school because they are care givers. Tourism businesses Botswana Examination Council press conference Police One child is interviewed. She appears to be appealing to viewers for financial help Head teacher Farmers and local council Botswana Exams Council Prison service Source uncertain. His record producer is interviewed Ministry of Agriculture Education Director public address Law court BDP general secretary Source(s) of information Local council meeting Unclear might be journalists initiative Police Government department

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5 Tuesday 10 January 2013 Met Office forecast of rain for next three months Children are affected by extreme poverty Crime rates Vice President visits farmers who are complaining about not being allowed to grow cattle fodder 6 Friday 11 January 2013 Office of President says poor public services are a thing of the past Farmers unhappy local chain stores are not buying their produce Workshop on anti-poverty (business management) Mining company and its ongoing social responsibility projects Four of seven escaped prisoners recaptured 7 Saturday 12 January 2013 Follow up on stories about poverty aired earlier in the week. Businesses have made donations Famous musician is buried Late rains allow for late ploughing of fields Mining project construction at Jwanenge Miss Botswana Pageant to go ahead Business who made donations Presidents Office One farmer, one business. Workshop Debswana Police Met office One mother interviewed Police and courts VP, farmers, Botswana Water Company

Family of musician Farmers interviewed Debswana press conference Botswana Council of Women press conference

8 Monday 14 January 2013 Princess Marina hospital has electricity crisis Hospital management, Botswana Power Company Residents, Dept for Environmental Affairs

Oil spilling from businesses into residential area Majwe Mining donates clothes to children Majwe Mining presentation Serowe Association of Disabled could close Workers at the association due to lack of funds Retreat organised to discuss Youth, Sport and Dept of Youth, Sport and Culture Culture Development Plan

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9 Sunday 20 January 2013 Vice President urges solution to foot and mouth disease MP urges residents to take advantage of rain and plough fields Motorists complain about level of traffic fines Houses collapse in heavy rain 10 Wednesday 27 February 2013 Botswana Defence Force commemorates death of soldiers at Lesoma in 1978 President says BDP (govt party) will be disciplined if they put their own interests ahead of the people Botswana Defence Force clean-up campaign in village Minister of Education visits local councils to talk about back-to-school programme Launch of new umbrella organisation of political parties for democratic change 11 Tuesday 5 March 2013 President opens international health conference in Gaborone Public meeting on fight against malaria, organised by mining company Commemoration of Africa Environment Day Minister opens Africa Technology Conference Minister of Trade and Industry statement on trading between Botswana and S Africa Govt officials tour rural area in response to residents concerns over damage caused by mining. BDP Womens Wing dinner President, conference participants Karowe Mine Government minister Minister of Transport and Communication at conference Minister of Trade and Industry statement Ministry BDF commemoration President Vice president at a public meeting MP at public meeting Motorists and police Residents

BDF brigadier Minister of Education Political rally

BDP

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12 Thursday 7 March 2013 Water shortages in Gaborone International health conference final day Meeting on youth and AIDS Youth and AIDS disability workshop Prices of houses too high because of shortage of land for building Court prosecutor jailed for contempt of court Police warn about motorists giving lifts to passengers without permit 13 Saturday 9 March 2013 President on walk-about meeting people near Francistown Initiative launched to prevent blindness District council rejects plan to build river bridge Commemoration International Womens Day Campaign on road safety Restocking of cattle begins after foot and mouth disease Crime wave in Gaborone West 14 Friday 15 March Abattoir reopens (closed for poor standards) Expo on firefighting equipment Management response to continuing power outages at Princess Marina Hospital Government responses to water wastage through leaks during water shortage crisis Opening of conference on fair competition President opens National Council of BDP Butchery operators Central District Council Hospital management, hospital PRO Minister of Minerals (full name?) Water Utilities PRO Minister of Trade and Industry President and meeting President Standard Chartered Bank and Ministry of Health Local council Meeting Police and motoring businesses Government agencies Residents, police Botswana Water Company Conference participants, including UNICEF Minster of Youth, Sport and Culture Botswana National Library Services Bank of Botswana, real estate companies Magistrates court Police

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Other research by Richard Rooney available online

Africa Editor: The Botswana Media Studies Papers, a collection of papers originally presented at a series of research seminars hosted by the Department of Media Studies in the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Botswana during September to November 2013. Click here Social Media and Journalism: The case of Swaziland, Ecquid Novi: African Journalism Studies, 34:1. 2013. Click here Characteristics of the Botswana Press Global Media Journal, Africa edition, Vol 6 (1). Stellenbosch University, South Africa. 2012. Click here Swazi Newspapers and the Muslim Threat. Lwati A Journal of Contemporary Research. Vol. 5. 2008 Click here 2008 The New Swaziland Constitution and its Impact on Media Freedom, Global Media Journal, Africa Edition. Vol. 2. 2008. Click here The Swazi Press and its Contribution to Good Governance. Global Media Journal African Edition, Vol 1. (Stellenbosch University, South Africa). 2007. Click here Suffer The Children Reporting of Minors by the Swazi Press. Lwati: A Journal of Contemporary Research (Swaziland), Vol 4. 2007. Click here Challenges in Assessing Vocational Work at a Tertiary Institution a Case Study of Journalism and Mass Communications at the University of Swaziland, paper presented at the 11th BiAnnual International Symposium for BOLESWANA, Quality Education: Implications for Regional and Global Development. Hosted by Namibia Educational Research Association / NERA, at the University of Namibia, Windhoek, Namibia, 6 8 July 2005. Click here

Papua New Guinea Nambawan to Watch: EMTV, PNGs Only TV Channel, Contemporary PNG Studies, Vol 1. Nov 2004. Divine Word University, Madang, Papua New Guinea. 2004. Click here Information for Empowerment and Development Why the Media is Failing the People of Papua New Guinea. Information for Empowerment and Development: Why the Media is Failing the People of Papua New Guinea, paper presented at the World Media Freedom Day Conference, Divine Word University, Madang, 30 April 2004. Click here Media Ownership Trends and the Implications for Democracy in Papua New Guinea. May 2004. Unpublished manuscript. Click here Rethinking the Journalism Curriculum an experience from Papua New Guinea, Asia-Pacific Media Educator, Graduate School of Journalism at University of Wollongong, Australia, Issue 14. 2003. Click here. 24

Must Try Harder: The Papua New Guinean News Media and Governance 2002: End of Year Report, paper presented at PNG Update 2002 Conference at Divine Word University, Madang, 5 November 2002, Divine Word University, Madang. 2002 Click here

United Kingdom News Media and Ideology in the UK, paper presented at a lecture series organised by the Communication Faculty, Girne American University, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, 22 February 2010. Click here Male Homosexuality in Britain the Hidden History, paper presented at Association of Journalism Education, Journalism the First Draft of History conference, London, UK, May 2000. Click here Think Stuff Unwanted: A History of Tabloid Newspapers in England, unpublished manuscript. 1999. Click here Protecting The Innocents, a case study of the coverage by the Liverpool Echoof the Paedophile Question, paper presented at Association of Journalism Education, Children and the Media Conference, London, UK, May 1999. Click here The Dynamics of the British Tabloid Press, Javnost, The Public, Vol. V (3), Journal of European Institute for Communications and Culture. 1998. Click here

Others Seven Days in March: World Press Freedom Today, paper presented at World Press Freedom Day conference, Girne American University, Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus, 3 May 2010. Click here

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