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</o:shapelayout></xml><![endif]--></head><body lang=EN-GB link=blue vlink=purple><div class=WordSection1><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Dear all,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><span style='color:black'>The African Media Barometer (AMB) Benin that</span><span lang=EN> took place in August 2011</span><span style='color:black'> was officially launched on </span><span lang=EN>Tuesday, June 19, 2012. According to the evaluation of indicators specific to the African Media Barometer 2011 edition, one of the weaknesses revealed at the AMB meeting is the stranglehold that the state authorities has on public service media which influence what is being printed. As a result, this has affected the quality or value of the media environment in Benin. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing style='line-height:115%'><span lang=WO-SN style='color:black'>The public broadcaster (especially national television) has lost some credibility as a result of the political interference by state authorities. Information is biased in favor of those in power, who censor all those who threaten their interests. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing style='line-height:115%'><span lang=WO-SN style='color:black'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNoSpacing style='line-height:115%'><span lang=EN>However, newspapers among others are positively appreciated by the report even though there are no </span><span lang=WO-SN style='color:black'>print media presented in the local languages. On the other hand, about 15 local languages can be heard on the rural radio stations.The state allocates an annual subsidy to the public broadcaster, but the salary levels of journalists are very low and in some cases virtually non existent. In spite of that, there are opportunities for training in journalism and the trade unions and journalist associations contribute in offering training. These unions are active in defending the media.</span><span lang=EN-ZA><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Please find attached the AMB Benin 2011.<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Enjoy the read!!!!<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Kind regards,<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal>Nora<o:p></o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><o:p> </o:p></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span lang=DE style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#17365D;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'>-------------------------------------------<o:p></o:p></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><b><span lang=DE style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#17365D;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'>Nora Thoma <i><o:p></o:p></i></span></b></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=DE style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'>Programme Officer<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=DE style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'>Friedrich Ebert Stiftung<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=PT style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'>fesmedia Africa<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=PT style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=PT style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'>P.O. Box 23652<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-ZA style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'>Windhoek<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-ZA style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'>Namibia<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-ZA style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'><o:p> </o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-ZA style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'>Switchboard Tel: +264-61-</span><span lang=EN-ZA style='font-size:10.0pt;color:red;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'>417500 (Number has changed)</span><span lang=EN-ZA style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-ZA style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'>Direct Tel.: +264-61-</span><span lang=EN-ZA style='font-size:10.0pt;color:red;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'>417527 (Number has changed)<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=FR style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'>Fax.:+264-61-237 441<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=EN-ZA style='font-size:10.0pt;color:#1F497D;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'><a href="http://www.fesmedia.org/"><span lang=FR>www.fesmedia.org</span></a></span><u><span lang=FR style='font-size:10.0pt;color:blue;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'> <o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal><u><span lang=EN-ZA style='font-size:10.0pt;color:blue;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'><a href="https://www.facebook.com/fesmedia.Africa"><span lang=FR>https://www.facebook.com/fesmedia.Africa</span></a> </span></u><u><span lang=FR style='font-size:10.0pt;color:blue;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'><o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal><u><span lang=FR style='font-size:10.0pt;color:blue;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'><o:p><span style='text-decoration:none'> </span></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal><u><span lang=FR style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'><o:p><span style='text-decoration:none'> </span></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal><u><span lang=FR style='font-size:10.0pt;color:black;mso-fareast-language:EN-GB'> <o:p></o:p></span></u></p><p class=MsoNormal><span lang=FR><o:p> </o:p></span></p></div></body></html>