Mali Main causes: employed journalists, unions and employers. 3. What are the main obstacles for further positive change? • The non-dissemination of study reports: it was observed that the 2006 barometer results which are available were not disclosed in Mali in contrast with other African countries where such an exercise was conducted to promote best practices; • The legislative and regulatory framework; • The poor enforcement and interpretation of instruments; • The existence of two media regulatory bodies; • The weakness of the self-regulatory body; • The inadequate government support to the media and the nonexistence of indirect support to the media; • The lack of independence of the judiciary. 4. If negative changes: who or what has been the main cause? The toughening of relations between the media and the public authorities, the intimidation of journalists through new methods used for taking people in for questioning, the sluggishness of regulatory organs; lower editing standards within media houses, dissensions within the profession, the acute lack of professionalism; trivialising the trade which is illustrated by the absence of a collective bargaining agreement on the working conditions of journalists, the constant manipulation of the media by politicians are, among others, negative changes which indicate that the media in Mali has taken a step backwards. • The toughening of relations between the media and the government. Main causes: the political context, political pressure, the lack of professionalism, over-zealous civil servants; • The interference of security forces in libel cases. Main causes: Lack of comprehension of instruments and bad practices. • Lower standards and weaker editorial contents in the media: lack of professionalism. Main causes: lack of training (sub-standard levels), corruption (a 28 Le Baromètre des Média Africains - Mali 2008