Political economy of media vis-a-vis elections
Friday, April 19, 2024 | 330 Views |
![Trying times: Mbuya told journalist that the print media is under strain PIC: KENNEDY RAMOKONE](https://cdn4.premiumread.com/?url=https://www.mmegi.bw/mmegi/uploads/images/2024/04/21/106412.jpg&w=800&q=72&f=jpg&t=1)
Trying times: Mbuya told journalist that the print media is under strain PIC: KENNEDY RAMOKONE
It goes without saying that 2024 is an important year for Botswana because of the forthcoming general elections. Batswana will be going to the polls in the next six months or so to elect a government of their own choice which will be in charge of running the affairs of the country for the next five years.
As the campaign season begins in earnest it is important that media practitioners do not lose sight of what print media can, and cannot do, in the age of digitisation. Print media is experiencing market failure, globally. If public policy interventions are not put in place to protect this “public good” this vital sector that provides alternative sources of information for a vast majority of audiences will face extinction. Elsewhere in the world, for example, Australia, Canada, and currently South Africa, the competition commissions of those countries have intervened to get to the bottom of the problem with the view to turning the tide.
The BDP as a party known to have ample resources has always held its primaries well in time, but this time around that was not the case. The first leg of the primaries was held last weekend, with the final leg being billed for the coming weekend. This time around, the BDP failed to shine in its primary elections. The elections were chaotic; most if not all polling stations didn't open at the specified time of 6am. Loyal BDP members braved the...