SECTOR 4 4.7 Journalists and media have integrity and are not corrupt. Corruption is unfortunately an inescapable reality in the Beninese media. The weakness of the advertising market is a huge problem as regards economic viability and many media actors, as an easy way out, turn to corruption. The phenomenon appears under various forms in the Beninese media: the transformation of certain newspapers into political propaganda papers yet invoking a certain independence, unholy and hardly transparent political communication contracts, the defrauding of politicians by certain journalists who transform their publications into blackmailing tools to make extra income and the general tendency of political actors and businesses to aussure information and coverage by contract. 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: 1.1 (2007=n/a) 4.8 Salary levels and general working conditions for journalists and other media practitioners are adequate. Apart from those in the public sector, the salary levels of journalists are appalling. Many journalists in the private sector do not have salaries and live on per diem. Some have worked for over fifteen years and never had a pay slip. Even the salary level of those in the public sector is not satisfactory. Journalists in both, the public and private sector, are hence not protected from corruption practices. Most media managers or promoters display such such affluence that it is not commensurate with the living and working conditions of their employees. AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER BENIN 2009 113