WAY FORWARD The way forward 1. What changes have there been in the media environment over the last two/three years? Positive developments • The Code of Criminal Procedure has expressly provided that journalists shall not be held in custody for press offenses. This was approved in 2012 and entered into force on 29 May 2014. • The guaranteed minimum wage (SMIG) was increased from 31,600 CFA francs (63 US dollars) to 40,000 CFA francs (80 US dollars) with effect from 1 May 2014. • Advent of new television and radio channels. • Introduction of the law on digital broadcasting. • Adoption and promulgation of the law on electronic and postal communications in July 2014. • Adoption of the law of 12 October 2011 on corruption and related offences. • The bill on the Information and Communications Code is before Parliament and awaits imminent adoption. Negative developments The Government’s grip on the public broadcaster has tightened. • • Failure to apply the collective agreement of private sector journalists; it has simply been consigned to oblivion. • The strong politicization of the HAAC (Government interference in its operation, those currently in office are the target of blatant interference by the Head of State). • Weakness and inertia of the professional media associations (mute in the face of attacks on the press). • The HAAC violates its mission to protect journalists and the media. • Recurring power outages disrupt the operations of press enterprises. • Persistence of non-aggression contracts between the Government and press bodies. • Aggravation of media corruption. • Professional regression; pooling = sharing resources during news coverage. AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER BENIN 2014 105