Editing Namibia (section)

===Media===
{{see also|Media of Namibia}}
Compared to neighbouring countries, Namibia has a large degree of media freedom. Over the past years, the country usually ranked in the upper quarter of the [[Press Freedom Index]] of [[Reporters without Borders]], reaching position 21 in 2010, being on par with Canada and the best-positioned African country.<ref>{{cite web|title=Press Freedom Index 2010|url=http://en.rsf.org/press-freedom-index-2010,1034.html|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101124050702/http://en.rsf.org/press-freedom-index-2010%2C1034.html|archive-date=24 November 2010|access-date=12 December 2012|publisher=Reporters Without Borders}}</ref> The African Media Barometer shows similarly positive results. However, as in other countries, there is still mentionable influence of representatives of state and economy on media in Namibia.<ref name="Rothe" /> In 2009, Namibia dropped to position 36 on the Press Freedom Index.<ref>{{cite web|title=Press Freedom Index 2009|url=http://en.rsf.org/spip.php?page=classement&id_rubrique=1001|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120128213104/http://en.rsf.org/spip.php?page=classement&id_rubrique=1001|archive-date=28 January 2012|access-date=26 August 2017|publisher=Reporters Without Borders}}</ref> In 2013, it was 19th,<ref>{{cite web|title=Press Freedom Index 2013|url=http://en.rsf.org/spip.php?page=classement&id_rubrique=1054|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140727023534/http://en.rsf.org/spip.php?page=classement&id_rubrique=1054|archive-date=27 July 2014|access-date=24 June 2013}}</ref> 22nd in 2014<ref>{{cite web|title=World Press Freedom Index|url=https://rsf.org/en/ranking/2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140214120404/http://rsf.org/index2014/en-index2014.php|archive-date=14 February 2014|access-date=25 April 2015|publisher=Reporters Without Borders}}</ref> and 23rd in 2019,<ref>{{Cite web|date=27 November 2020|title=Namibia: Real freedom but frequent threats &#124; Reporters without borders|url=https://rsf.org/en/namibia|publisher=Reports Without Borders|access-date=3 January 2020|archive-date=21 March 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220321055833/https://rsf.org/en/namibia|url-status=live}}</ref> meaning that it is currently the highest ranked African country in terms of press freedom.

Although Namibia's population is fairly small, the country has a diverse choice of media; two TV stations, 19 radio stations (without counting community stations), 5 daily newspapers, several weeklies and special publications compete for the attention of the audience. Additionally, a mentionable amount of foreign media, especially South African, is available. Online media are mostly based on print publication contents. Namibia has a state-owned Press Agency, called [[Namibia Press Agency|NAMPA]].<ref name="Rothe">Rothe, Andreas (2010): Media System and News Selection in Namibia. p. 14–96</ref> Overall {{circa}} 300 journalists work in the country.<ref name="jobs">{{Cite news|title=40 journalists lose jobs since 2016|last1=Kahiurika|first1=Ndanki|last2=Ngutjinazo|first2=Okeri|newspaper=[[The Namibian]]|date=22 January 2019|page=6|url=https://www.namibian.com.na/74849/read/40-journalists-lose-jobs-since-2016|access-date=22 January 2019|archive-date=22 January 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190122145012/https://www.namibian.com.na/74849/read/40-journalists-lose-jobs-since-2016|url-status=dead}}</ref>

The first newspaper in Namibia was the German-language ''Windhoeker Anzeiger'', founded 1898. During German rule, the newspapers mainly reflected the living reality and the view of the white German-speaking minority. The black majority was ignored or depicted as a threat. During South African rule, the white bias continued, with mentionable influence of the Pretoria government on the South West African media system. Independent newspapers were seen as a menace to the existing order, and critical journalists were often threatened.<ref name=Rothe/><ref>von Nahmen, Carsten (2001): Deutschsprachige Medien in Namibia</ref><ref name=Links>Links, Frederico (2006): ''We write what we like: The role of independent print media and independent reporting in Namibia''</ref>

Current daily newspapers are the private publications ''[[The Namibian]]'' (English and other languages), ''[[Die Republikein]]'' (Afrikaans), ''[[Allgemeine Zeitung (Namibia)|Allgemeine Zeitung]]'' (German) and ''[[Namibian Sun]]'' (English) as well as the state-owned ''[[New Era (Namibia)|New Era]]'' (predominantly English). Except for the largest newspaper, ''The Namibian'', which is owned by a trust, the other mentioned private newspapers are part of Democratic Media Holdings.<ref name=Rothe/> Other mentionable newspapers are the tabloid ''Informanté'' owned by TrustCo, the weekly ''[[Windhoek Observer]]'', the weekly ''[[Namibia Economist]]'', as well as the regional ''Namib Times''. Current affairs magazines include ''[[Insight Namibia]]'', ''Vision2030 Focus magazine''{{citation needed|date=July 2015}} and ''Prime FOCUS''. The ''[[Sister Namibia]]'' magazine stands out as the longest running NGO magazine in Namibia, while ''[[Namibia Sport]]'' is the only national sport magazine. Furthermore, the print market is complemented with party publications, student newspapers and PR publications.<ref name=Rothe/>

Radio was introduced in 1969, TV in 1981. The broadcasting sector today is dominated by the state-run [[Namibian Broadcasting Corporation]] (NBC). The [[public broadcasting|public broadcaster]] offers a TV station as well as a "National Radio" in English and nine language services in locally spoken languages. The nine private radio stations in the country are mainly English-language channels, except for Radio Omulunga (Oshiwambo) and Kosmos 94.1 (Afrikaans).
Privately held [[One Africa Television|One Africa TV]] has competed with NBC since the 2000s.<ref name=Rothe/><ref name="oneafricabackground">[https://web.archive.org/web/20100928202233/http://www.oneafrica.tv/node/2 One Africa Television]. oneafrica.tv. 25 May 2010</ref>

Media and journalists in Namibia are represented by the Namibian chapter of the [[Media Institute of Southern Africa]] and the Editors' Forum of Namibia. An independent media ombudsman was appointed in 2009 to prevent a state-controlled media council.<ref name=Rothe/>