Reply by the Assistant Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration (for the Minister) to Question raised at Ntlo Ya Dikgosi

source: Republic of Botswana (6/2/10) TAUTONA TIMES no 1 of 2010
The Electronic Press Circular of the Office of the President
"Democracy, Development, Dignity, Discipline and Delivery"


B5) 1/2/10: REPLY BY THE ASSISTANT MINISTER FOR PRESIDENTIAL AFFAIRS AND PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION (FOR THE MINISTER) TO QUESTION RAISED AT NTLO YA DIKGOSI:

Question No. 1, asked by Kgosi K. Boiditswe (Serowe Region)

QUESTION: To ask the Minister for Presidential Affairs and Public Administration: a) if she is aware that Radio Botswana allocates more time to international news than the local ones; and b) if so why is the local news allocated lesser time when there is so much to report on.

ANSWER: Mr. Chairman, it is not true that Radio Botswana allocates more time to international news than the local news. Radio Botswana news bulletins normally take 10 minutes, each item accorded approximately 1 minute for local items and 40 to 50 seconds for foreign items. In a bulletin this equates to approximately nine items, broken into 5 local items and 4 foreign items. In percentage terms this works out to approximately 60% local items and 40% foreign material. Even during festive seasons, public holidays and weekends when only a few sources of news are available, Radio Botswana prefers to repeat some of the 'evergreen' or 'running' stories over foreign material. I thank you Mr. Chairman.