SECTOR 1 1.11 Civil society in general and media lobby groups actively advance the cause of media freedom. he answer to this indicator is clearly yes and there are numerous examples where pressure groups express themselves through demonstrations when the freedom of journalists and the media is speciically threatened by aggression and any similar acts. here was for example a demonstration to the Ministry of the Interior and HAAC when journalists were manhandled by the police during a demonstration that was prohibited. his sensitivity to the freedom of the media that is cited here does not cover up for the critical attitude of these associations towards journalists who now have a growing disapproval for taking sides, thus leading to a situation where some are on the “presidential” side while others are on the side of the “opposition”. he good thing is that it has been observed that there is a growing tendency to defend the community media. E.g. when the authorities wanted to remove a radio station to another location, the people demonstrated their displeasure by brandishing cutlasses. In the public media (ORTB) too, when journalists take sides on major issues to do with the freedom of the media and public services which concern them, it has been observed that trade unionists and civil society give them their support. 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: 84 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER BENIN 2011 4.7 (2007 = 4.2 ; 2009 =4.1)