SECTOR 4 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: 3.6 (2008 = n/a) 4.8 Salary levels and general working conditions for journalists and other media practitioners are adequate. According to a report by the National Remuneration Board, the starting salary for a journalist should be Rs8000. This wage is unrealistic and will not attract potential entrants into the profession. With a growing media industry and rife competition amongst media houses, journalists have been able to negotiate for better salaries and conditions. Salaries in Mauritius differ from one media organisation to another, and a journalist’s earning power is dependent on his or her market value. A journalist can command a high salary and excellent benefits if he/she has specialist knowledge, is well known for his/her work, or is able to provide lead stories on a regular basis. A journalist specialising in economic news is currently earning Rs 100 000 a month at one media house. He works extremely hard and produces copy for a variety of media products in that organisation. One of the larger media houses offers adequate entry level packages depending on a journalist’s profile and ability to negotiate. The organisation tends to hire university graduates who are French, and they start off at Rs 13 000 to Rs 20 000 a month. More experienced senior personnel earn less than entry level staff at this organisation, and many of these experienced journalists are leaving for smaller media houses where the remuneration is better. The MBC falls under the Pay Research Bureau salary scheme, so remuneration for entry level journalists is fixed at Rs 18 000. Entry into MBC is difficult and depends on qualifications and ability or political connections. All potential employees must AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER MAURITIUS 2010 59