Mali able environment, but some believe that nothing is being done in practice for politicians to freely express themselves. Direct support to the media, set at Two hundred million (200,000,000) CFA francs, approximately 300,000 Euros, has remained unchanged over the past 12 years. Although the number of media outlets is increasing exponentially and the government is not creating the conditions for their development. Media support is a direct funding to media outlets; there is no indirect support. Individual scores: 4, 3, 3, 2, 3, 2, 2, 2, 3, 3. Average score: 2.7 (2006=4.5) 2.10 Private media outlets operate as efficient and professional businesses. Analysis Media outlets lack efficiency and professionalism as business entities. They operate in a make-shift manner and lack the necessary human and financial resources. They are not real businesses because at their creation, the criteria for setting up a media company were not adhered to and nothing was done thereafter to conform to these. With the media support award criteria, efforts are being made towards professionalising the industry. Unfortunately the award commission does not provide itself with the means to verify the morality of requests presented by certain media companies. Very few companies try to conform to the requirements of a truly sustainable business. Individual scores: 3, 2, 3, 3, 3, 2, 2, 2, 2, 2. Average score: 2.4 (2006=2.4) Le Baromètre des Média Africains - Mali 2008 13