African Media Barometer Madagascar 2015 Summary The 2016 Africa Media Barometer panel, composed of journalists, media experts, legal experts, sociologists, business players and trade unionists as well as representatives from civil society gave a thorough overview of the situation of the press, the media industry as well as freedom of expression in Madagascar. The country has witnessed a media landscape that has shown some dynamism between 2012 and 2016, but which remains subject to abuses, various forms of manipulation and terrible working conditions. Over the last couple of months, numerous new headlines have seen the light of day through the printing press, and new television and radio stations that have been created; signs which prove that the media houses remain active in spite of a morose political climate since 2012. There has been a palpable improvement, but difficulties persist, notably the establishment of a strong and economically productive professional network, as much for the industry as for the employees themselves. The discussions highlight not the only the tough working conditions, but also the organisational, legal and technical dysfunction of the media industry in Madagascar. A dysfunctional industry Following the example of the latest barometer of the state of the media in Madagascar, the 2016 panel confirms the onerous working conditions of journalists and the fragile or even absence of any form of social security cover from which they might benefit. These conditions have deteriorated, especially for those journalists employed by State-owned channels and reporters employed by private radio stations. This has a significant impact on the quality of living- and working conditions of journalists, from which the central panel discussions did not shy away. The panellists also pointed out the total dysfunction of the organisation itself within the Madagascan press. For example, the Ordre des Journalistes de Madagascar (OJM), an organisation that is supposed to defend the interests of journalists, seems to operate and intervene in a timely manner, without entering into discussions regarding funding like salaries, social security, editorial independence, economic and political pressure that plague the media profession. As far as the associations are concerned, they have little influence and the scope 60 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER MADAGASCAR 2016