The law prohibits media concentration and guarantees transparency of media ownership. But more often, these matters constitute very murky domains where the real owners handover management to relatives or front men. Congo has no clear media development policy or a statutory provision for media subventions. The texts of application of several legal provisions that could have enhanced the media environment have not been signed, notably the law regulating the delivery of broadcast licenses. More and more women are entering the Congolese electronic media as journalists, and also in editorial positions in newspapers. This growing number of women is not reflected in the space given to women in media reporting and programming. The ruling party dominates the public media and little room is given to the opposition parties. Some opposition supporters are afraid to speak in the media because of the political intolerance that prevails. Congo is a secular state; religious diversity is reflected in the media, and airwaves are given to Christian and Muslim groups alike. These groups operate newspapers as well, and buy spaces in news outlets. The media cover all issues but the newsroom decision-making processes are likely influenced by forces that may not be journalistic in nature. Government-sponsored news events, for example, get most of the space in newspaper columns and the airwaves. The ICT sector is evolving on autopilot, and there is no coherent ICT policy. Authorities use advertisements to interfere with editorial content either directly or indirectly. The High Council for Freedom of Communication is responsible for the regulation of broadcasting throughout the country. It is vested with many powers, but the independence of the Council is not adequately guaranteed and it is perceived as an organ at the service of authorities of the Government and the ruling party. The state broadcasters, Radio Congo and Tele-Congo have no board. There are two directorates that each report directly to the Minister of Communication, and depend on financial allocations by the ministry and have no independent budget. Both editorial and management staff of Radio Congo and Tele-Congo are forced to “toe the line drawn by the Government and political authorities”. The Congolese media – both private and public – are frequently criticised for wide ranging flaws and one-sided reporting that generally erode their credibility. A self-regulatory body was set up by the industry in 2001 to foster the principles of ethics and professionalism, and there is number of institutions to train and build the capacity of journalists in Congo. 70 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO 2013