Accords of 30 May 1991. The new press law revoked the previous Statutory Instrument 22/91, of 15 June 1991, From an administrative point of view, the media sector in Angola falls under the Ministry of Social Communication. Statutory Instrument number 7/92 of 16 April established the National Social Communication Council (CNCS), an independent body responsible for ensuring the objectivity and impartiality of the information provided by the media as well as safeguarding freedom of expression and thought in the media, in compliance with the rights laid down in the constitution and other relevant pieces of legislation. The CNCS has 17 members and meets once every month to analyse the degree to which legal requirements for the exercise of press freedom are adhered to and deliberate on matters brought to its attention by the public. There is a proposal for an amendment to this law, with the intention of granting the body the power “to deliberate on any behaviour susceptible of constituting a violation of legal provisions and regulatory frameworks applicable to the media, as well as to monitor the extent to which norms concerning media ownership and transparency are adhered to and to ensure compliance with the legal principles and limitations on advertising material and sponsorship” 1. The new proposal also intends to reduce the number of members of the CNCS to 9, including its chair, who, within the new framework, would be a retired judge2. The remaining members of the CNCS, under the new proposal, would be chosen in line with the following criteria: a) 2 experts in law and political science; b) 1 expert in media and journalism; c) 1 expert in electronics and telecommunications; d) 1 expert in linguistics; e) 1 expert in communication sociology; f ) 2 journalists. With the exception of the two journalists, who would be elected by the respective professional associations, the other six members of the CNCS would be appointed by a two-thirds majority of the general assembly. Public service media are covered under section 9 of the Press Law, which determines that, “with a view to ensuring the right of citizens to inform, to inform themselves and to be informed, the state guarantees the existence of its own public information service, which is to be established on the basis of a specific statutory instrument regulating the matter”. 1 Explanatory note with respect to article 7 of the Draft Bill for the amendment of the Law of the CNCS 2 Draft Bill for the amendment of the Law of the CNCS (article 12) 72 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER ANGOLA 2010