SECTOR 3 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: 2.3 3.7 The state/public broadcaster offers diverse programming formats for all interests including local content and quality public interest programmes. The Gabonese public broadcaster is unpopular. It is perceived by the public as a tool of propaganda in favour of the Government and the ruling party activists. It systematically fails to broadcast information that might embarrass the authorities, even if this information is in the public interest. For example, Gabon Television did not cover a landslide that killed seven people two years ago. This is also the case of a recent public demonstration of trade unions at the National Assembly. A panellist stated that Gabon Television isn’t the most important channel that people use to get information. Outside the dissemination of Government propaganda, the quality of the programs is generally regarded as rather poor. Even some authorities publicly admitted that the general public do not watch Gabon Television. It has the reputation of not broadcasting what interests the public but rather what the regime likes. Even if it remains dominated by pro-Government propaganda, Gabon Television produces an increasing number of local content. There’s always provincial news during the main newscast at 7 PM. The authorities take them along on their campaigns throughout the country which allows, Gabon Television journalists from time to time to show the daily life of the population. AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER GABON 2016 97