SECTOR 3 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: 1.1 (2007 =1.1 ; 2009 = 1.3) 3.6 The editorial independence of the state/public broadcaster from political inluence is guaranteed by law and practiced. he independence of the state/public broadcaster (ORTB) is oicially guaranteed by law 97-010 and the 1992 law establishing HAAC. However, Article 6 of law No. 92-021 gives HAAC the prerogative of proposing three names for the position of directors of public media boards to the Head of State for nomination at the ministerial council meeting. HAAC is also the body that guarantees “he Head of State has the independence and impartiality in the use of become the director of public information and communication facilities. In simple language, the law has made provision for programs of national the editorial independence of these facilities. television.” In practice however, there has consistently been interference on a daily basis even if one can cite cases of personnel from the radio ighting against excessive control by those in power. As compared to the community radios and TV, the national radio is of less importance to those in power. According to one of the panelists, the situation is such that “the Head of State has become the director of programs of national television”. he most evident case of interference happened during the nomination of the current MD of ORTB. In conformity with the legal provisions the HAAC proposes three names for consideration by the Head of State. In the case of the current MD however, the President of the Republic chose to ignore the list that HAAC had proposed since it did not include the name of the outgoing MD whose term he sought to prolong. AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER BENIN 2011 107