SCORES: Individual scores: 4, 4, 4, 4, 3, 4, 3, 4, 3 Average score: 3.7 4.7 Owners of private media do not interfere with editorial independence. ANALYSIS: There is interference with editorial independence from owners of private newspapers and radio stations. Some of the reasons are the owners’ overt or covert political agenda, the fact that they are owned by political parties, the owner’s background as a journalist in the case of founder/owners and his/her economic instincts and motivation. Such interferences are causing a high staff/editorial turn over in some media houses. SCORES: Individual scores: 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 1, 3, 3 Average score: 1.4 4.8 Salary levels and general working conditions for journalists and other media practitioners are adequate to discourage corruption. ANALYSIS: With the exception of the Daily Graphic and some anchor men/women in the private broadcast media, the salaries and conditions of service for journalists are generally bad. This tends to encourage corruption. The type of corruption can be very subtle and works in different ways. Sometimes, it may be in the form of “appreciation” being paid after the publishing of a favourable story or the decision not to publish a negative story. It is also common practice for journalists who attend press conferences to receive an “allowance” to cover their transport costs 27