Mass media in Zambia

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Mass media in Zambia consist of several different types of communications media: television, radio, cinema, newspapers, magazines, and Internet-based Web sites. The Ministry of Information, Broadcasting Services and Tourism is in charge of the Zambian News Agency which was founded in 1969. Due to the decolonization of the country, it ultimately allowed the media sector of the country to flourish, and enabled the establishment of multiple different new outlets, as well as established a new news consumption culture that wasn't previously known to Zambia. Furthermore, due to the short-wave capabilities, and international increase in production, demand, and sales of the transistor-radios in the country it made it increasingly more difficult to control the media outlets throughout Zambia by the leaders of the government.^[1]

Although many forms of mass media are available to Zambian citizens as the internet and social media develop, more traditional forms of media are still preferred. Radio and television are the most common forms of mass consumption for the average Zambian as they are the most accessible.^[2] However, as cellphones become more popular social media and text messaging have become new avenues for mass media.^[2] The Zambian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Services houses the Zambian News and Information Services wing which provides news and information to the public and has since its formation in 2005.^[3] Despite the prevalence of nationally owned news, there are also various privately owned forms of media in Zambia as well.