Media of Mozambique

The Media of Mozambique is heavily influenced by the government.[1] Information in Mozambique is relayed by means of television, radio, newspapers, magazines and the internet. Radio is the most popular form of media.[1] Media outlets are regulated by the Supreme Mass Media Council.[2]

Print media

Mozambican newspapers have relatively low circulation rates as a result of high newspaper prices and low literacy rates.[1] One study indicates that only 5 in 1000 people have access to newspapers.[3] The two most popular daily newspapers are state-owned Noticias and the privately owned O Pais.[1] State controlled newspapers such as daily Diário de Moçambique and weekly Domingo are also highly circulated.[2] Other newspapers include Savana and Tempo.[4] A weekly newspaper known as Verdade is distributed free of charge near the capital city Maputo and is known for its negative views on the government.[1]

Noticias has the highest circulation rate at 16,000. Savana comes second with 15,000, while Domingo and Zambeze both have 10,000. Circulation is mainly confined to Maputo.[3]

Most funding and advertising revenue is given to pro-government newspapers.[1] However, the number of private newspapers with critical views of the government have increased significantly in recent years.[2]

Radio

Radio programmes are the most widespread form of media in the country.[1] The most influential radio stations are state-owned, with most of the private radio stations having only a local audience. State-owned Rádio Moçambique is the most popular radio station in the country.[1] It was established shortly after Mozambique's independence in June 1975 as a result of a merger between three other radio stations.[5] In October of that year, LM Radio, the Afrikaans and English service of Rádio Moçambique was shut down and its facilities nationalized.[5][6]

Television

The penetration rate of cable television in Maputo is roughly 30%.[3] Televisão de Moçambique, established in 1981,[7] is Mozambique's only state-controlled television station.[2] It is headquartered in Maputo. Approximately five privately owned stations are also headquartered in Maputo.[2] Foreign television stations such as Portuguese state TV and Brazilian-based Miramar have high viewership rates.[8]

Internet

With only 4.8% of the population having access to the internet, Mozambique's internet usage is among the lowest in Africa.[9] According to a report released in 2007, the capital Maputo had the highest internet usage rate, standing at 37.7%.[10]

There are no government restrictions on access to the Internet, however, opposition party members report that government intelligence agents monitor e-mail.[11]

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Salgado, Susana (2014). The Internet and Democracy Building in Lusophone African Countries. Ashgate. p. 79.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 "Mozambique: Mass media". Electoral Institute for Sustainable Democracy in Africa. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
  3. 1 2 3 Mário, Tomás Vieira; UNESCO (2011). Assessment of Media Development in Mozambique: Based on UNESCO's Media Development Indicators. UNESCO. p. 123.
  4. ↑ "Mozambique". Europa World Year Book 2004. Europa Publications. 2004. ISBN 185743255X.
  5. 1 2 Berg, Jerome S. Broadcasting on the Short Waves, 1945 to Today. McFarland. p. 221. ISBN 978-0786469024.
  6. ↑ "A Short History of LM Radio". LM Radio. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
  7. ↑ "Company Overview of Televisão de Moçambique – EP". Bloomberg. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
  8. ↑ "Mozambique: Profile". BBC. Retrieved 14 July 2015.
  9. ↑ "Key ICT indicators for developed and developing countries and the world (totals and penetration rates)", International Telecommunications Unions (ITU), Geneva, 27 February 2013
  10. ↑ Assessment of Media Development in Mozambique: Based on UNESCO's Media Development Indicators, p. 124
  11. ↑ "Mozambique", Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2012, Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor, U.S. Department of State, 22 March 2013. Retrieved 21 January 2014.
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