SECTOR 4 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: 4.3 (2006= 2.6 ; 2008 = 3.6, 2010 = 1.5) 4.10 Journalists and other media practitioners are organised in trade unions and/or professional associations, which effectively represent their interests. Yes, indeed, journalists are organised in unions or professional organisations. There currently are 20 professional associations16, which are all legal. This multitude is, however, no indicator of effectiveness, including the defence of their mismanaged collective bargaining agreement. It is impossible to tell who is who and who does what. Some merely get set up to express their allegiance to one camp or another. Most of the associations are particular in that they all have only few members, which make it difficult to keep the organisation afloat. It needs to be said that the few members that are part of the associations do not pay annual membership. Others exchange and share documents but are also active in ensuring their protection against politicians. Finally there are those who are involved in training, which is the case of two local associations in Mahajanga, working in particular, towards the strengthening of professional ethics. 16 The main ones are the court reporters, cultural journalists, political writers, those bringing together private radio journalists, environmental specialists, women journalists, the union established in 2012. AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER MADAGASCAR 113