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MISA Angola, in collaboration with the Association of Angolan Journalists (SJA), organised abroadcasting seminar where, among others, they demanded regional radio stations.Media diversityThe emergence in mid-2005 of Cruzeiro do Sul, a private weekly circulated mainly in Luandaand Benguela, was considered the year’s media highlight. Unita re-launched its monthly newspaper,Terra Angolana, while the private weekly newspaper Actual ceased to exist.The government’s refusal to grant Radio Ecclesia a license to broadcast countrywide led to theVatican broadcasting its main services on short wave radio. The Catholic online newspaperalso strengthened its presence along with the news services of Nexus, among the existing onesin the public media.MISA Angola is concerned that the Angolan media lacks skills in Information and CommunicationTechnology.Media solidarityIn mid-2005, media associations such as SJA, the Association of Economic Journalists ofAngola (Ajeco) and the Association of the Sporting Press (Aida) raised their concerns aboutthe prosecution and victimisation of journalists and broadcasting restrictions to the Ministry ofSocial Communication. The private media echoed its concern about the limiting of RadioEcclesia’s signal, as well as labour-related issues with Radio 2000 journalists in Lubango,Huila province.ConclusionThe year 2005 confirmed the existence of an active private media in Angola, which is animportant factor in the transitional process to democracy. However, this presence is limited tothe capital city.The transformation of public media (both radio and television) into government media and thelack of a true public service broadcaster raise serious doubts of pluralism and independence,especially in the light of the upcoming general elections.The development of a pluralistic and independent media faces major constraints such as mediamanagement difficulties and the inappropriate political and commercial environment. Corruptionin the social sphere, as well as within the media, raises ethical problems and brings intoquestion the credibility of the media.The established practice of intelligence service agents infiltrating the media continues to createa climate of suspicion among journalists and the public at large.So This Is Democracy? 2005-30-Media Institute of Southern Africa