SECTOR 4 The media practise high levels of professional standards. 4.1 The standard of reporting follows the basic princi-ples of accuracy and fairness. A recent study conducted by INCIPALS on the “relationship between legitimate comments and tensions” identified the types of crime in the media. The study took notably into account the most serious of crimes (offenses such as defamation and justification of the crime) and the least serious crimes (such as rumour mongering). The results showed that the lesser crimes were by far the most numerous. The study concluded that slip-ups do occur, but that they are mostly of minor consequence. A Code of Ethics and Deontology has been put in place by the Order of Journalists in 2004, but has not yet been adhered to. It even provides for a disciplinary council, which was never established. Having developed its own Code of Ethics, the newspaper L’Express de Madagascar is the exception to the rule and they have shown palpable efforts. In this way, the editorial staff of the Express first systematically study the contents any communiqué in order to assure themselves that they do not contain any defamatory statements or modifications. As has already been the case, the newspaper does not hesitate to request the State to modify its statement should they deem this necessary. The Express newspaper also takes great care in verifying its sources and, in principle, does not publish the names of any persons implicated in a story where such individuals are 12 not being prosecuted. Such a case presented itself during the Rosewood Affair , or more recently the Panama Papers scandal. In order to minimise the influence of advertisers, advertisements are placed in a supplement. Civil society takes great care in sending out statements but they denounce some of the interpretations made by journalists. For example, journalists often refer to autism as an illness whereas the press release emphasises the fact that it is a condition of a person. Sometimes, in order to avoid the errors that could have serious consequences, civil society members sometimes prefer to buy the pages. For some panel members, the American Professional Code of Conduct is a good model to follow. The panel members are of the opinion that, inasmuch as codes of ethics and deontology exist in other professions (for example accountants and medical professionals), a similar measure has to be put in place for the profession of journalism. The quality of initial education provided to prospective journalists is also questionable. Since 1995, journalists require a university degree to be admitted 12 The exploitation of rose wood, which is forbidden in Madagascar, is a regular cause for scandal, due to highranking officials engaging in the illegal trafficking of this commodity. 96 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER MADAGASCAR 2016