SECTOR 4 4.3 Salary levels and general working conditions, including safety, for journalists and other media practitioners are adequate. In 2013, the CNP conducted a financial control on media, and its first public report of 10 June 2013 revealed that 85% of press enterprises were in irregular situations. There has been a slight improvement in the salaries of journalists. Since January 2015, the question of salaries in the print media is in the process of being regulated. The collective agreement fixed the minimum salary at 250.000 FCFA (USD 427) for a novice journalist. Despite this agreement, however, one panellist underlined the fact that the salary could decrease to 100 times less at certain community radio stations. This huge disparity has led the President of the Republic to react and give instructions for the necessary corrections to take place. Certain newspapers that do not pay the agreed amount offer pages to journalists by asking them to take responsibility for their sales in order to make some money. Some press bosses who do not want to apply the collective agreement are from the milieu of journalists. Concerning the provision of social security, very few press enterprises are up to date. Some online media operate solely on the computer and internet connection of their owner(s), as the editorial staff often do not have the necessary equipment to carry out their jobs. For example, at Fraternite Matin, journalists do not have a device for an internet connection. This indicates to the panellists that the working conditions of journalists are dreadful, and that most journalists are “moonlighting”. In this difficult environment, “per diems” and “gombos” will persist, and journalists will continue to operate without medical insurance or social security. Scores: Individual scores: 1 Country does not meet indicator 2 Country meets only a few aspects of indicator 3 Country meets some aspects of indicator 4 Country meets most aspects of indicator 5 Country meets all aspects of the indicator Average score: 104 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER Côte d’Ivoire 2016 2.5 (2012 = 1.7, 2009 = 2.3)