SECTOR 1 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: 4.8 (2010:4.9; 2008:4.3; 2006:3.7) 1.2 The right to freedom of expression is practised and citizens, including journalists, are asserting their rights without fear. The panellists agree that the freedom of expression is effectively established for the citizen and, in particular, for journalists. As proof, one member of the panel cites the numerous interactive shows produced and broadcast live by radio stations, in which citizens express themselves freely. As for journalists, the same panellist stated that “Senegal is even in the lead among the countries that have decriminalised press offences,” so free are journalists in Senegal to express their opinions without repercussions. However, the majority of the speakers think that the freedom of expression is not exercised without fear, for, in the words of one of them, “there are so many who destroy and attack this freedom”. A participant mentions the efforts of politicians and lobbies of all kinds to restrict this freedom. And although the exercise of the freedom of expression is a matter of personal will, according to this panellist, “our politicians play on our collective conscience”. He quoted, in particular, the example of a brother of the Senegalese President who allegedly called a journalist to cover him with abuse, for the simple reason that the journalist had written about him in an article in terms he did not like. Sometimes, the citizen or journalist who voices criticism about religious leaders “risks being beaten up, not to mention the impunity that goes along with it,” the panellist concluded. It follows that self-censorship tends to take over the freedom of expression. In this regard, one of the panel members placed particular emphasis on the selfcensorship of government representatives within governance bodies and in the AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER SENEGAL 2013 75