SECTOR 4

bonuses given to journalists for covering events, often under the pretext of
reimbursing their travel costs, are nothing less than corruption.
The rest of the group feels that one cannot speak of corruption the moment such
gratuities are included in the budget for the event or the journalists are invited,
just like any other participant.
Besides, according to some views, journalists from the large press groups, which
have scant resources for the transportation of their reporters, cannot be judged
as harshly as those of smaller structures, particularly community radio stations.
However, a speaker recalls, while it is true that there are corrupt press companies
and journalists, there are also corruptors. He quotes statements attributed to a
member of civil society to the effect that the organisers know the journalists and
know how to handle them. Corruption also comes from the economic, political
and religious environments.
As for the causes of such easy susceptibility to corruption, the panel puts forward
several arguments, starting with the ignorance of or voluntary disregard for ethical
principles and rules of conduct, the lack of training and the social insecurity of
journalists and press companies.

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:

2.4 (2010:2.3; 2008:n/a; 2006:n/a)

4.6 Journalists and editors do not practice self-censorship in the private broadcasting and print media.
As a whole, the panel believes that journalists of the private sector practise selfcensorship in many respects. Even though the panellists admit to being unable to
provide concrete examples, they affirm that the bits of information left unsaid are
clearly perceptible when one closely examines many articles published and topics
broadcast by the media.

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AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER SENEGAL 2013

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