SECTOR 2 Soleil, with its 200 agents and its circulation, is less well endowed than smaller newspapers. “This is problematic,” the speaker maintained.14 The state has announced its good intentions with regard to scaling down the operating charges of press companies. Thus the Agency for Telecommunications and Postal Regulation (ARTP) is announcing a reduction in the fees for the allocation of frequencies for radio and television stations. At present, the fees for the allocation of frequencies are a heavy burden on operators. For example, the fee for a television channel is 21 million CFA per annum. “That is very high!” said an indignant panellist. A member of the group urges the government authorities to carry out reforms in the advertising sector. 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: 2.7 (2010:3.6; 2008:n/a; 2006:n/a 2.7 All media fairly reflect the voices of both women and men. To this assertion, a panellist replies categorically: “No, no, no! When one looks at the programmes, one has the impression that women don’t exist”. According to her, in their system of representation, the media, in most cases, reduce topics concerning women to their folklore activities. But, when it is about fundamental issues and matters requiring reflection, the press falls back on stereotypes. In the opinion of another speaker, women are “ghetto-ised” into certain subjects dealing exclusively with women’s concerns. And even then, in some cases, the treatment of the information is pathetic. Another panellist goes further, adding that women attract more media attention when scandals or sensational information are involved (rapes, elections of “Miss …”, etc.). 14 Aid to the press for the year 2012 http://www.aps.sn/articles.php?id_article=115933 /http://www.rewmi.com/ Decouvrez-la-repartition-de-l-aide-a-la-Presse-pour-l-annee-2012_a58879.html 92 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER SENEGAL 2013