of their involvement to change working conditions of journalists positively, is slight. An inefficient regulatory body Moreover, Madagascan legislation provides for the creation of a regulatory authority called the Haut Conseil de l’Audiovisuel (HCA). This entity is however, not established but replaced by the Special Commission on Audiovisual Communication (CSCA). The independence of such a commission has however been questioned, as shown by the central debates. Participants have also highlighted the lack of training dedicated to media professionals. Despite the recently established private institutes, the students which receive their training at these institutions do not seem to entirely fulfil the requirements of professional journalism, because the general knowledge component necessary in the exercise of the profession, is neglected during the course of their academic studies. Finally, the Madagascan media sector suffers from technical deficiencies, especially at private radio stations and publically owned media outlets. As for the latter, the fire that broke out at the offices of Malagasy Radio-Television (RTM) during the 2009 crisis severely undermined the station. The building which was reputed for its modern facilities and equipment, is now practically dilapidated. Staff members cruelly lack proper working tools, resulting in very low quality broadcasts. All these various dysfunctions render the organisation of the media profession ineffective. Efforts to support However, there have been efforts made to support the media landscape. The panel has for instance recognised the good work done by community radio stations in the dissemination of local content, which has allowed opening up, at least through communication, these far-flung communities. Furthermore, diversity is present in the programming schedules, thanks to local and regional content relayed through the media. Both men and women are represented in both the profession and the content, even if this representation is not equal. Whatever the case may be, responsible positions within the industry remain open to female journalists. A willingness to support the independence of journalists, as much as this is possible, has however been recognised, as witnessed by the establishment of a Code of Conduct for journalists, even though this willingness has not been more widely witnessed. The conclusions drawn by the panel call for a revitalisation of media professions, especially as far as working conditions, editorial independence, and the ease of access to training and information are concerned. These efforts will allow for AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER MADAGASCAR 2016 61