SECTOR 2 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: 4.5 (2010:3.0; 2008:1.5; 2006:2.1) 2.6 Government promotes a diverse media landscape with economically sustainable and independent media outlets. Indeed, the panel points out that, the government authorities have, on the whole, demonstrated a will to promote a healthy press and a diverse range of media services. But one of members of the group says he is not so sure about how real the State’s efforts are to strengthen the economic viability of the media, which, in his opinion, poses a serious threat to their independence. Among other acts listed by the panel, the State has, on the one hand, granted fiscal amnesty by wiping out, on 31 August 2010, a debt of 15 billion due in tax by all the national media taken as a whole. On the other hand, some members lament the fact that this has not brought about durable economic viability, for “the stock of tax arrears quickly built up again”. Hope arising from a meeting organised between media bosses and the tax directorate did not bear fruit, according to a panellist who attended that meeting. It turned out to be a simple presentation of the new tax codes. On the contrary, explains another participant, the State’s rationale is, rather, to renege on preferential conditions conceded to certain sectors, at the request of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). On the other hand, the State has maintained the 700-million CFA subsidy to the press this year. However, one of the panellists recalls that the press players have not yet found an attentive ear to their request for a reform of the State’s method of intervention, namely by moving from a system of distribution of direct aid to one of subsidising inputs. The basis on which the State subsidy to the press is allocated is highly questionable. One panellist is amazed that the daily Le AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER SENEGAL 2013 91