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: 1.5 4.6 Owners of established mainstream private media do not interfere with editorial independence. Interference of media owners in the operations of editorial teams and the orientation of their papers is “systematic”, according to some panelists. Owners influence the editorial line according to their personal or professional relationships and the sensitivity of the topic covered. One participant, a newspaper editor, said that when information went against his political beliefs, he would not allow it to get into print. Panelists felt this was understandable because he who controls the purse strings will obviously be able to exert pressure on the editorial team, the content and the orientation of his product. However, the Press Code act - echoing the code of ethics - offers journalists a means to free themselves from the diktat of the owner: the conscience clause. This allows journalists who may find themselves in disagreement with a new editorial line adopted by their paper to terminate their contract at the expense of the employer. Article 65 of the act provides that the conscience clause may be invoked if there is a substantial change in the orientation of a media outlet which creates a situation in which an employee’s honour and reputation or moral interests in general may be affected. The conscience clause is actually being applied in Togo. One panelist mentioned the case of a newspaper where four journalists resigned following a change in editorial policy. 128 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER TOGO 2010