SECTOR 4 Several media houses employ handicapped people but the majority of newsrooms are ill-equipped to take care of the specific needs of handicapped workers. L’Effort Camerounais and Radio Veritas, faith-based news organisations, require their journalists to be Roman Catholics. Panellists were of the opinion that it is difficult for equal opportunity to be respected in this domain since professional competence - rather than race, social group, gender, religion, disability or age - is the overriding consideration in the recruitment of journalists. 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 (2008 = n/a) 4.5 Journalists and editors do not practice selfcensorship. Cameroon’s media laws are considered to be some of the most repressive on the continent. Criminal libel is enforced and journalists and editors tend to practice self censorship to stay out of trouble. Economic and political interests, the proprietor’s personal interests and the common practice of “brown envelope journalism” also shape the nature of reporting. Generally the media will not criticise their advertisers for fear of having their advertisement contracts withdrawn. AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER CAMEROON 2011 103