SECTOR 1 1.10 Civil society in general and media lobby groups actively advance the cause of media freedom. Civil society is satisfied with the work it is doing for the freedom of the media by raising awareness among citizens. Human Rights activists mobilise whenever the freedom of the media comes under threat. Civil society organizations are working in coalition with the media in order to promote the promulgation of a law on access to information. Advocates and the bar sometimes voice their support for the media. As a rule, it can be said that members of civil society contribute to the defence of media freedom. Criticism by civil society is focused on the perception that the media are currently not in very good condition; according to such criticism, they allegedly lack the necessary energy and unity to champion their own cause. Civil society also laments the fact that certain media professionals think they have unlimited rights. Media professionals, on the other hand, deplore the absence of coordinated action by members of civil society in defending the media. This is allegedly due to the fact that civil society itself operates in a disorganized manner, according to a panellist from the media sector. He quotes the example of the arrest of the journalist John Akintola, who did not enjoy the necessary support from civil society or certain pressure groups for his release, against a background where the pre-trial detention of a journalist is not authorised by the law. In the view of one panellist, a large part of civil society has a particularly negative influence on the freedom of the media due to its manipulating them. 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: 2.6 (2007=4.2; 2009=4.1; 2011=4.7) AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER BENIN 2014 75