SECTOR 2 2.3 Efforts are undertaken to increase the scope of circulation of the print media, particularly to rural communities. The State has not undertaken any efforts to this end. The rare initiatives aiming at disseminating print media in rural areas are undertaken by the Catholic Church through publications such as Lakroan’I Madagasikara and Isika Mianakavy, or rural community development projects such as the PROSPERER project, financed by IFAD7, running in five regions8 of Madagascar. These initiatives, however, are confronted with high illiteracy rates. In fact, 35% of young Malagasy can neither read nor write, according to the panellists. 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: 2.8 (2006= 1.9, 2008 = 2.5, 2010 = 1.4) 2.4 The editorial independence of print media published by a public authority is protected adequately against undue political interference. There is no newspaper published by a public9 authority. This indicator cannot be scored. 7 8 9 82 International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Upper Matsiatra Region, Analamanga, Vatovavy Fitovinany, Itasy, Sofia There is only one national press agency (ANTA), which sends subscribers a monthly broadcast summary. It is a public establishment of commercial and industrial character (EPIC), under the authority of the Ministry of Communication. This agency currently has 10 subscribers and receives State subsidies. AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER MADAGASCAR