SECTOR 2 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: 2.5 2.6 Government promotes a diverse media landscape with economically sustainable and independent media outlets. Public subsidies to the private press decreased from 500 million CFA francs (US$ 870) to 300 million CFA francs (US$ 521) per annum in 2016. These subsidies apply only to the printed media. A commission at the Ministry of Communication uses several criteria, such as the periodicity, the printing, and the fixed premises to designate the recipient. In addition to the reduction of the overall amount of subsidies, the number of recipients is also declining. The subsidies planned for 2015 have been postponed until 2016, and among the thirty newspapers selected by the Commission, the Ministry of Communication has allocated subsidies to only ten newspapers. More and more, the Ministry of Communication refuses to assist newspapers regarded as hostile to the Government. New rules and conditions are often used to discount some newspapers. Previously, public subsidies to the press were open to all newspapers, but today, the beneficiaries are chosen from among those who request it. The sector also faces a problem of discrimination in the issuance of licences. Opponents of the Government are struggling to obtain them. This is the case of a former Minister of Communication, disgraced, awaiting approval for a television channel and a radio for more than five years. The number of so-called community radio stations is on the rise, but these radio stations operate exactly like commercial radio stations. There are no specific measures in Gabon for the promotion of community radio stations. 82 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER GABON 2016