SECTOR 4 4.6 Journalists and editors do not practice selfcensorship in the private broadcasting and print media Self-censorship is a common practice among journalists and editors in Benin. Reasons range from the need to protect the economic interests of media outlet, to fear of retaliation, mainly from powerful forces from within the government and the business milieu. Unwritten rules tell journalists what they can write or say and what they cannot; who they can criticise and who they cannot criticise; etc. Self-censorship is the result of all forms of pressure on journalists, including those from their supervisors and employers. Some media owners have lists of ‘sacred cows [subject matter]’ that their journalists cannot ‘touch’. All this creates an atmosphere of fear and journalists prefer to err on the side of caution. This is noticeable in their reporting: sometimes journalists simply keep silent when large companies – such as the major telephone service providers – are accused of bad practices; or instead they jump to defend them. ‘It is quite possible to follow changes in the economic and political interests of a newspaper owner by simply examining the work their journalists are doing.’ Scores: Individual scores: 1 Country does not meet indicator 2 Country meets only a few aspects of indicator 3 Country meets some aspects of indicator 4 Country meets most aspects of indicator 5 Country meets all aspects of the indicator Average score: 43 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER BENIN 2018 ✓ ✓ ✓✓ ✓ ✓✓✓✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 1.4 (2007 = 4.3; 2009 = 1.8; 2011 = 2.3; 2014 = 1.9)