decisions into account in their rulings. Citizens are taking a lot more of their complaints about the media to ODEM than to the courts. And they have reason to complain, as it happens quite often that media houses publish information without verifying it. Moreover, there are media houses that are aligned to a political side and are therefore not bothered by the balance or exactness of their information. Financial inluence is also a pressing issue. Certain news items are given coverage because business owners or those concerned parties may have paid. hen there is also still censorship by the media owners or self-censorship by the journalists. he salary levels of journalists are very low and in some cases virtually inexistent. his is a recipe for all forms of corrupt practices. he only exception to this state of afairs is the case of public media houses where there are on-going negotiations for better salaries. here are opportunities for training in journalism. he trade unions and journalist associations contribute in ofering training. hese unions are active in defending the media. 72 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER BENIN 2011