SECTOR 4 4.2 The media follow voluntary codes of professional standards, which are enforced by independent/ non-statutory bodies that deal with complaints from the public Numerous attempts have been made to establish voluntary codes of professional standards for journalists and media organisations in Cameroon. At least four codes exist in the country and cover areas such as ethics and election coverage. As complaints about the quality of journalism increased, in 2000 the prime minister decreed an ethical code for journalists; which like the several others that existed before then, was hardly respected. In summary, while voluntary codes exist, they are not generally applied. This is partly due to the fact that the CUJ has been dormant for many years. Some journalists follow international codes such as the Munich Charter, but no bodies exist to enforce them locally. The Cameroon Media Council, which was set up by the CUJ to, amongst other things, enforce a code of ethics, failed to take off. 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: ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓✓✓✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 1.8 (2008 = 1.9; 2011 = 2.3; 2014 = 1.9) 4.3 Salary levels and general working conditions, including safety for journalists and other media practitioners are adequate One of the biggest problems plaguing the media is low pay. Estimated salaries range from as little as 50,000 CFA (about 90 USD) a month to hardly more than 700,000 CFA (about 1,250 USD) a month for media executives. Even then, salaries are not regular and there are examples of newspapers that owe staff up to 40 months’ pay. To reduce the payroll bill and labour disputes, some newspapers have contracts only with a selected few and ‘pay the rest of their staff across the counter’. In worse instances, to avoid paying staff, some news organisations keep reporters as interns for as long as they can. ‘Others require journalists to earn money from tips and handouts they get while out on coverage,’ said one panellist. 43 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER CAMEROON 2018