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: 2.9 (2008: 3.5; 2006: 3.7) 4.6 Owners of established mainstream private media do not interfere with editorial independence. Owners will interfere with the work of editors whenever his/her business interests are at stake. In one instance, the owner is in the habit of calling editors at the beginning of the year and reading out a list of “cash cows” (i.e. advertisers) who have to be treated with care. Other owners of radio stations or print media who are politicians or politically connected recruit their staff according to their political orientation and sometimes interfere directly when sensitive stories have to be carried. In their normal dayto-day work journalists at these media houses do not need to be told what to do – “they know where they are”. In some cases owners are veteran journalists themselves and play the role of advisers due to their experience. This is regarded as helping to enrich the stories rather than interference. 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: 2.5 (2008: 2.3; 2006: 1.4) AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER GHANA 2011 51