SECTOR 3 3.6 The editorial independence of the state/public broadcaster from political influence is guaranteed by law and practiced. The legislation that created and organised Cameroon Radio Television (CRTV) makes no mention of editorial independence. CRTV promotes the government’s agenda and tends to allocate more airtime to the ruling party. Its journalists are civil servants who are employed by the Ministry of Communication, and paid by the Ministry of Finance. State authorities often influence programming. Such influence includes imposing blackouts of certain sensitive subjects or directing how editors and producers should orient or treat certain issues. CRTV cannot break important or sensitive stories, such as the March 2011 pirate raid on a bank in Douala, until they get an official press release or comment. 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: 1.1 (2008 = n/a) 3.7 The state/public broadcaster is adequately funded in a manner that protects it from arbitrary interference through its budget and from all commercial pressure. Every employee in Cameroon pays an audiovisual tax, for which the amount varies according to the employees’ basic salaries. The money is collected by the Ministry of Finance, and is then disbursed to CRTV. Even though it is meant entirely for the running of the state broadcaster, it is hardly ever transferred to the broadcaster in full. This, in addition to frequent delays in transferring the money, places financial pressure on the state broadcaster. In March 2011, for example, salaries of CRTV employees were delayed for several weeks. Authorities are currently taking steps to pay journalists directly from the state treasury, instead of from CCTV. 94 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER CAMEROON 2011