African Media Barometer Eswatini

Politics determines the direction of media activities in this small, landlocked nation of the Kingdom of Swaziland. Permission is commanded from the highest ranks of government before any public announcement is made from senior level of government to ordinary citizens, since 2009. The trade of a journalist in Swaziland is so infringed to the extent that written reports that may be seen as negative towards the state may easily overstep on any of the 32 pieces of legislation that negatively impact the media. The outdated pieces of legislation are so broad in language that they can be used in any situation to impose restrictions on the media. Competition within the media sector is easily measurable as the advertising market is small with only two means of survival for media houses. On a positive note, the Swaziland Communications Commission, The Swaziland National Editors Forum and MISA-Swaziland have been established to ensure continued efforts to unite the media landscape through professional associations.