SECTOR 4 4.4 Journalists and other media practitioners are organised in trade unions and/or professional associations, which effectively represent their interests. There are numerous trade union organisations and professional bodies within which journalists, technicians and press owners strive for the promotion of their respective sectors and in defence of their economic, social, material and moral interests. The panel cites in particular the Senegalese Union of Information and Communications Professionals (SYNPICS), the Convention of Young Senegalese Reporters, the Board of Broadcasters and Newspaper Publishers of Senegal (CDEPS – employers’ organisation), the networks of economic journalists, cultural journalists, etc. According to the members of the panel, the professional organisations sometimes rise above the corporatist divides and rivalries to form an alliance around common interests geared to the development of the press sector in general. This often happens between SYNPICS (journalists and media technicians) and CDEPS (broadcasters and publishers). Similarly, through their respective organisations, media players work together with other civil society organisations on specific issues. 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: 4.4 (2010:2.9; 2008:2.7; 2006:2.7) 4.5 Journalists and media houses have integrity and are not corrupt. According to the panel, corruption is an undeniable reality in the media world. In its multiple forms and different magnitudes, it affects all levels of news organisations. But of all its different manifestations, the “per diem” practice is the most controversial within the group. Part of the participants are convinced that these AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER SENEGAL 2013 117