The media liberalisation policy of 1996 and the expansion of the media industry in Zambia: A case study of Zambia News and Information Services

Zambia’s media industry can be said to have evolved through three significant phases, the first phase being the pre-independence period. During this period, the media were largely influenced by colour–segregation, with no public policy in place to guide the stakeholders. Secondly, immediately after independence, the media were established with a view of eliminating the imbalances created during the pre-independence period. This period saw the nationalisation of private media firms, with no public policy put in place. The third phase is from 1991 onwards, when the country reintroduced multiparty politics, with the ensuing need for change in media policy and management from state controlled to liberalized media. The country, therefore, introduced in 1996 the Media Liberalisation Policy to liberalise the media industry in line with the political dispensation at that time.
The overall purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of the media liberalization Policy of 1996 on the expansion of the media industry in the country. The dissertation used a case study of Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) to investigate the impact of the policy on the expansion of the ZANIS in terms of structure, increase in the number of personnel, offices and service provision, as well as acquisition of more equipment.
The study was conducted in Lusaka involving 120 respondents drawn from Zambia News and Information Services (ZANIS) Zambia National Broadcasting Services (ZNBC), Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services (MIBS), Zambia Daily Mail, Muvi Television, Radio Christian voice, The Post newspaper and Times of Zambia