SECTOR 4 have a University degree. But the salary of an MBC employee can remain static for several years, and it may even take ten years to earn Rs 25 000. During this period a journalist’s hard work is rewarded with more responsibility but the remuneration remains the same. MBC staff who are employed on a contractual basis have the power to earn much more depending once again on their negotiation skills. There is a huge gap in earnings of full time journalists and senior staff at all media houses. A reporter can earn Rs25 000 per month while a line editor will earn Rs70 000. All media practitioners work extremely long hours and are not paid overtime. Full time employees at the MBC, however, are paid overtime. Additional benefits and conditions differ from one media house to another. The new trend amongst large organisations with a variety of media products is to contract journalists to provide copy for all their media products – print and radio. 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: 2.7 (2008 = n/a) 4.9 Media professionals have access to training facilities offering formal qualification programmes as well as opportunities to upgrade skills. There is a variety of journalism programmes offered at different training institutions in Mauritius. • The University of Mauritius offers an undergraduate programme – a BSc in Communication with a specialisation in journalism or business communication. The degree programme is both theoretical and practical, and students taking journalism are obliged to undergo an internship in a media house during their degree programme. 60 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER MAURITIUS 2010