The official launching ceremony of the Benin 2021 African Media Barometer (BMA) took place yesterday, Thursday, on the campus of Abomey-Calavi. It was in the presence of important personalities from the media sector, civil society actors and students from the National School of Information and Communication Sciences and Techniques (ENSTIC). Indeed, the African Media Barometer is an analytical exercise that assesses the state of a country’s media while serving as a practical lobbying tool for media sector reforms. Set up by the Friedrich Ebert Stiftung and the Media Institute of Southern Africa since 2004, the barometer has already assessed thirty-one African countries at least once. In Benin, the panel took place in Dassa-Zoumè from 27 to 29 August 2021.
On this occasion, the summary of the report presented by Dorice Djèton, one of the panelists, takes into account four sectors: the protection and promotion of freedom of expression and the media, diversity and independence of the media, transparency and independence in the regulation of audiovisual communication and the exercise of high professional standards.
Thus, according to the report, freedom of expression is guaranteed by the Constitution of Benin in its articles 23 and 24. Also, there are legally ’72 daily news papers, eight weeklies and four bi-weeklies, more than 90 radio stations and about 15 television channels, including web television and news websites’ in Benin. In addition, the absence of state aid to the private media for more than five years, the absence of an assiduous practice of investigative journalism, the rather unbalanced treatment of information with a flagrant violation of ethical rules are all shortcomings noted by the panel. There was also a focus on the precarious salaries and general working conditions of journalists and the absence of women in senior positions in the sector.
At the end of this presentation of the report, the conclusions of which are published in a 60-page bilingual document, there is room for debate. To this effect, entitled “The viability of digital media in Benin”, the exchanges mobilised different media actors such as Pesce Hounyo, Manager of Reporter Bénin Monde; Dr. Marius Dossou-Yovo, Expert in Cyberspace Law, former Deputy Secretary General of the High Authority for Audiovisual and Communication (Haac); Jean-Claude Dossa, Secretary General of the Union of Media Professionals of Benin (Upmb); Paul Arnaud Déguénon, Director General of Benin Web TV.
Moderated by journalist Vincent Agué, the debate focused on a major concern: what is the legal framework for online media in Benin? Thus, from their discussions, it follows that the viability of digital media is not assured in Benin. The reason for this is the diversity of digital media without any market study, the legal framework considered too liberticide, the legal environment not secure, the economic model not adequate…
In terms of perspectives, it is recommended that the digital media act as one to defend their causes. It is therefore advisable to pool resources in order to form powerful groups in the sector.
Dr Iris Nothofer, resident representative of the Friedrich Ebert Foundation in Benin, praised the efforts of the experts who worked on the report.
