SECTOR 2 2.4 Transparency of ownership of media houses in print/broadcasting is guaranteed by law and enforced. It cannot be said that transparency of ownership exists in the print and audiovisual media enterprises in Benin. The panel considers that a newspaper’s circulation is akin to a “state secret”. Some newspapers often do not reveal the following information required by law: the publisher of the publication, the editor, the name and address of the printer, the legal deposit, the ISSN and the names and addresses of editors. Several newspapers publish articles without providing the name of the author. During election periods, candidates have been known to finance various newspapers, enjoying cover in different media, including press reviews. This lack of transparency also exists in the access to information concerning the promoters and owners of audiovisual media. 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: 2.5 (2009=n/a; 2007=n/a; 2011=n/a) 2.5 Adequate competition legislation/regulation seeks to prevent media concentration and monopolies. Organic Law 92-021 of 21 August 1992 relating to the HAAC governs the regulation of competition. A provision of Article 6 of this law stipulates, among other things, that the HAAC ensures that press publications do not fall prey to concentration, in order to maintain the pluralistic nature of information and communication. Act No. 97-010 of 20 August 1997 governing the liberalization of the audiovisual sector and special penal provisions relating to press and audiovisual communication offenses, regulates shares. Article 20 provides that “no shareholder may hold more than 51% of the share capital among its members”. But in practice these provisions are not often applied or respected. AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER BENIN 2014 81