SECTOR 4 4.3 The media cover the full spectrum of events, issues and cultures, including business/economics, cultural, local and investigative stories. The media does not cover all subjects. Very few editorial teams make arrangements to cover all subjects. Reports in the Beninese media predominantly focus on institutional issues (essentially government-related) for the state media and political issues for the private media. The media globally reports on all other subjects, however, in varying degrees. Most local media try as much as possible to stay close to the events occurring in their vicinity, which have priority over national political issues. However, for resourcerelated reasons, local radios in some areas are transformed into institutional communication tools for mayors to the detriment of local economic and cultural issues. Investigative stories are more and more rare giving way to reports and commentaries. A case of plagiarism with international implications committed by a Beninese journalist Larisse Houssou was widely discussed as one of the weak points of the Beninese media over the past two years. (Could you elaborate a bit on the context of this plagiarism). Scores: Individual scores: 1 Country does not meet indicator 2 Country minimally meets aspects of the indicator. 3 Country meets many aspects of indicator but progress may be too recent to judge. 4 Country meets most aspects of indicator. 5 Country meets all aspects of the indicator and has been doing so over time. Average score: 110 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER BENIN 2009 3.3 (2007=3.9)