SECTOR 4 The media practice high levels of professional standards. 4.1 The media follow voluntary codes of professional standards, which are enforced by self-regulatory bodies that deal with complaints from the public. The code of professional standards in the Democratic Republic of Congo, namely the Code of Ethics of the Congolese Journalist, was adopted on 4 March 2004. Compiled by professionals (in the sector), this code is applied by the Observatory of Congolese Media (OMEC), which as part of self-regulation, monitors the media and handles public complaints. The disciplinary committee of the National Union of the Congolese Press (UNPC) assists OMEC in this task. As an UNPC official underlines, OMEC takes on the role of prosecutor, the UNPC commission that of judge. It is important to note that UNPC issues media cards and at the same time also handles grave violations of the Code. 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: 4.7 4.2 The standard of reporting follows the basic principles of accuracy and fairness. As mentioned previously, the underlying principles of accuracy and impartiality are neither respected in the public media nor in other media in general, except in some rare cases. Meanwhile, since the Code of Ethics and OMEC were put into place in 2005, qualitative changes to the downward drift in the media have occurred, with a marked tendency to return to a balanced treatment of information, notably in 112 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER Democratic Republic of Congo