In Mali, anyone can establish a media body, but, according to the law, the publishing director of any media body should be a journalist. Article 13 of the law N°00-46/AN-RM of July 7, 2000, governing press management, states that: “The director of a publication is responsible for the content of the newspaper. He/she must be aged 21 and beyond, have at least three years of professional experience, enjoy his/her civil rights and have his/her domicile or his/her residence in Mali.” In spite of these legal provisions and regulations, in practice, journalists who fail to fulfil these criteria and conditions operate without any administrative hindrance. 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: 3.5 (2008 = 4.7; 2006 = 4.4) 1.7 Confidential sources of information protected by law and/or the courts. are No law in Mali protects confidential sources. However, the question of confidentiality is not seen as an issue with regards to freedom of expression and, in particular, freedom of the media, because journalists don’t feel obliged to reveal their sources and no journalist has ever been forced to do so. Some judges ask for the sources but don’t insist. According to Article 15 of the Code of Journalist Ethics in Mali, journalists do not need to reveal the source of confidential information. However, the law governing the press compels the Director of Publications to require that authors who submit unsigned articles or use a pseudonym must provide in writing their true identity before publication of their articles. 86 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER MALI 2010