MAURITIUS 2.9 Government promotes a political and economic environment which allows for a diverse media landscape. ANALYSIS: The present government psychologically discourages the setting up of newspapers, with the Prime Minister threatening to impose a Media Commission to control the media and the relationship between the government and the media having soured over time due to police raids on a private radio and journalists being arrested for allegedly publishing false news. In general, government does not do anything to promote a political and economic environment for a diverse media landscape to flourish. The opening up of the airwaves to private radio in 2002 was not a deliberate government policy but merely an unavoidable consequence of liberalisation. SCORES: Individual scores: 2,1,2,2,3,2,1,1,2,2 Average score: 1.8 2.10 Private media outlets operate as efficient and professional businesses. ANALYSIS: The group La Sentinelle with the flagship daily L’Express is run as a professional company. Its management is business-minded and regards newspapers as a “product”. Le Mauricien, the oldest daily newspaper of Mauritius, has been a family-run and owned company for many decades. Samedi Plus, a new investigative weekly, claims that making a profit is not their primary goal. Radio Plus seems to be the only profitable station while Radio One African Media Barometer - Mauritius 2008 15