SECTOR 4 4.8 Salary levels and general working conditions for journalists and other media practitioners are adequate. Togolese journalists are mostly poorly paid. According to some estimates, average monthly wages are in the region of FCFA 15 000 to FCFA 20 000 (US$ 3040). Sometimes freelancers even work for no pay at all. There is no collective agreement for journalists and other media practitioners. There is also no payment for overtime. Formal and binding contracts are rare in the industry. It should be noted however that certain publications such as Liberté and Forum offer salaries in excess of 100 000 FCFA. Apart from low wages there is also no social insurance cover. The Union of Independent Journalists has been trying to take out collective insurance for its members but has not managed to do so yet. Nevertheless, some media companies are making a real effort in this regard, notably Liberté, la Chronique de la Semaine and Canard Indépendant. At Canard Indépendant 2 out of 7 journalists who make up the editorial team are enrolled with the state social security system, according to one panelist. As for general working conditions, these are characterised mainly by weak logistics. There are too few means of transport and this limits the ability of Togolese journalists and technicians to do their work out in the field. 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: 1.4 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER TOGO 2010 131