SECTOR 2 Scores: Individual scores: 1 Country does not meet indicator 2 Country minimally meets aspects of the indicator. 3 Country meets many aspects of indicator but progress may be too recent to judge. 4 Country meets most aspects of indicator. 5 Country meets all aspects of the indicator and has been doing so over time. Average score: 1.5 2.6 Government promotes a diverse media landscape with economically sustainable and independent media outlets. As a whole, panel members acknowledge that the firm commitment of the Ivorian State Authorities to create an encouraging media landscape is clearly illustrated in the prevailing legal and regulatory instruments. Regarding the modalities for the issuance of an authorization to broadcast via conventional waves, the law governing the social communication sector stipulates that “the committee reviewing the bids or candidates shall assess the interest of each project for the public based on key requirements particularly the safeguarding of socio-cultural pluralism”. Besides, on the grounds of this need for a healthy environment, the government is moving cautiously as regards the liberalization of the television sub-sector. However, this task is easier said than done. In spite of all good intentions, the broadcasting environment is characterized by the absence of private television channels and the limited number of private commercial radio stations (Nostalgie, Radio Jam). Meanwhile, there is a profusion of private non profit radio stations (local radios, rural radios, educational radios, radio ONUCI, denominational radios, etc...) with a scope of work that is more or less restrictive. For instance, local radios could not, until quite recently, air advertisements and information of a political nature. Currently, local radios may broadcast political information on the condition that at least one professional journalist is on the editorial staff and they also air commercial advertisements. Panel members expressed satisfaction however at the concrete measures taken by the authorities to strengthen the economic viability of media outlets. Government aid to the media through the FSDP (Media development support fund) amounts, in principle, to 3.6 billion CFA francs. In reality, 1.3 billion have been allocated to AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER IVORY COAST 2009 95