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ParMA Network StudiesThe Financesof African NewspapersAn Overview of the Financial Situationof Selected NewspapersStudy Co-ordinated by Anne PerrinLayout: Hélène Gay (Gret). Translated by Lara Colo (Gret). February 2002.Table of ContentsIntroduction OBJECTIVES AND METHODOLOGY5 Obtaining Reliable Figures on the Finances of African Newspapers5 Survey Methodology and Study Contours5 Survey Sample Selection5 Researchers6 Respecting Anonymity in Publishing Results6 Study LimitsPart 1 PROFILES AND REMUNERATION OF NEWSPAPER STAFFIN SELECTED AFRICAN COUNTRIES7 Profiles of People Surveyed7 Survey of Journalists7 Journalists’ Environment: Training and Legal Framework8 Remuneration10 Survey of Freelancers10 Environment10 Remuneration10 Survey of Directors of Publications10 Who are Directors of Publications?10 Director of Publication: A Management Job?11 Remuneration11 Survey of Non-Journalist StaffPart 2 FINANCIAL ANALYSIS OF PRESS ENTERPRISES13 Difficult Access to Financial Information13 The Difficulty of Evaluating Property 313 The Difficulty of Separating Integrated Activities in the Accounts14 Analysis of Financial and Quantitative Data14 Turnover: Amount and Distribution16 Revenues, Unit Prices and Volumes16 Management Intermediate Balances19 Lessons Learnt19 A Profitable Activity at or above a Certain Threshold20 An Ideal Activity for Businessmen?21 Striking Differences between French- and English-Speaking Countries23 ...

Informations

• Publié par: Zyon
• Nombre de lectures: 26
• Langue: English

Extrait

ParMA Network Studies

The Finances of African Newspapers

An Overview of the Financial Situation of Selected Newspapers

Study Co-ordinated by Anne Perrin

Layout: Hélène Gay (Gret). Translated by Lara Colo (Gret). February 2002.

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Table of Contents

Introduction O    BJECTIVES AND METHODOLOGY Obtaining Reliable Figures on the Finances of African Newspapers SurveyMethodology and Study Contours Survey Sample Selection Researchers Respecting Anonymity in Publishing Results Study Limits

Part 1 P   ROFILES AND REMUNERATION OF NEWSPAPER STAFF IN SELECTED AFRICAN COUNTRIES Profiles of People rSvueyed Survey ofoJurnalists Journalists’ Environment: Training and Legal Framework Remuneration Survey of Freaelncers Environment Remuneration Survey of Dierctors of Publications Who are Directors of Publications? Director of Publication: A Management Job? Remuneration Survey of Non-oJurnalist Staff

Part 2 F   INANCIAL ANALYSIS OF PRESS ENTERPRISES Difficult Access to Financial Information The Difficulty of Evaluating Property The Difficulty of Separating Integrated Activities in the Accounts Analysis of Financial and Quantitative Data Turnover: Amount and Distribution Revenues, Unit Prices and Volumes Management Intermediate Balances

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Lessons Learnt A Profitable Activity at or above a Certain Threshold An Ideal Activity for Businessmen? Striking Differences between French- and English-Speaking Countries

Conclusion

Appendices Appendix 1: Researchers Appendix 2: Terms of Reference Appendix 3: Country Indicators Appendix 4: A Short Technical Glossary

Introduction

OBJECTIVES AND MHEOTDOLOGY

OBTAINING RELIABLE FIGURES ON THE
SURVEY METHODOLOGY AND STUDY CONTOURS FINANCES OF AFRICAN NEWSPAPERS Survey Sample Selection The springtime of the press that saw the emergence of pluralism and a movement toward greater de T m h o e  c- study was carried out in six African countries racy in many countries in Africa has ended. Si (t n w ce o anglophone and four francophone). It covered the mid-1990s, increasing competition, the la 1 s 4 s   i- newspapers and more than 80 media profes- tude of readers who are less eager for news  s ( i a on dals. To keep sample variability within reason- sometimes disappointed by the poor quality of a  t bl h elimits it focused on the written press. Selection newspapers), difficult economic conditions ( c n ri o t - eria for countries and newspapers did not aim tably with the devaluation of the CFA franc) h to a   v reflect a general situation in Africa but to reflect led to the crisis now facing a large number of Afr it ic s  a d n iversity. newspapers. −minimum of two newspapers were selectedA Though this crisis is acknowledged, it has not beei neach country. analyzed. Indeed, there is not much on the fina − s media nce ange of r ediw a tcelferd teecel sesrintCuo of African newspapers or on the economic situa- development in Africa (Cameroon, Côte d'Ivoire, tion of journalists and other media professionals G . hana, Kenya, Niger, Senegal). With so little information available, it is difficult − for  idffrenete ary vey er vofni sreparus eht ewspN development organizations to carry out effectiv s e izes. The largest is a daily with a circulation of programs that correspond to the needs of the pre m s o s re than 100,000 while the smallest, a weekly, media. has a circulation of 1,000; the number of per- The objective of this study is to provide donors wit s h onnel varies from more than 100 staff and free- information to facilitate their decisions on how to lance journalists to six. best support the media in Africa. To do this, we aimed to examine the financial situation of p − dnavirp etaserps.eherT aabi  se oflanclic  pub sers enterprises and, more specifically, journalists' re- 5 muneration.  Researchers Given the sensitive nature of the study, there was an obvious advantage in using local researchers who are experienced journalists and who are also well- respected by their peers. They were therefore well- placed to help us identify the newspapers that met the criteria of the study and who could establish

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Introductio   and Methodologyn Objectives

relationships of trust with media professionals. S   t T u h d e y Limits study was carried out from July to November 2001 and the surveys were done between July  and A Sensitive Subject that Inspires W.aTrihneess September. survey  could not be carried out in equal detail in The researchers received specific instructions areveht ,,llawoh . eserOvou crintll uobt ds dicherseare re the survey and each had a dual job to do:  obtain substantial and quite precise data on a topic − l r n  f y o w d t     s o e enswapepr o s i   t ( s i e n uq u eriann ahtsi tler ivaty elbota Oo. T shedulca deevruni y all types of media professionals (staff jour K n e a n l- ya and Cameroon) were unwilling to provide ists, freelance journalists, directors of publ f i i c na -ncial data. tions, and non-journalist staff). Its purpose was to obtain information on types and levels of  n r e e w - spaper Most of bs t  e h c e a   u n s e e w ( s w p it a h p t e h rs e     s e u x r c v e e p y ti e o d n     a o r f e K p e r n i y v a ate muneration for media professionals, other sources of income, job mobility, etc. e w r h n e m re e  t n h t  e p r a e p  a e r r e s    t n e o n  g d o e v d e  n rn ot m  t e o  n r t e  n s e po w n s d p   a to p   e t r h s e )   ,  q g u o e v s - - −Another component of the questionnaire treainnoi ar- . geted administrative and financial managers  a I n t d  not possible to obtain precise information newspapers' accounts. Its objective was to an- was alyze financial performance (structure of op o e n r j - ournalists’ “non-salary” inc(osummessof money ating expenditure and income, proportion t f   e h o s e f s y i   o m n ay rec d e i i e v m e  s a a s  n p d a   r o t t   h of e   r t   h p e a   y “p m e e r n k t s s ”  i  o n  f  e t x h c e h ir a  p n r g o- salaries in operating expenditure, income, profit  , per e margins, etc.). for l   a a ri rt e i s c ) l . e   s W ,  e e   t d c e . c   i t d h e a d t    c n o ot m  t p o e  i n n s s a is t t e     o f n o   r t  i h n is s   u p f o fi i c n i t e  t n o t Finally, in addition to the survey, each resear s c a her submitted a short analysis that noted the mai c a n o v   o r m i e d - m  a o r n o   u p s r i a n c g t   i t c h e e s   ,  m s i u st c r h u   s a t s     o p f  e in r  t d e i r e vi m e s w a e n e d s.     p B a u y t  m th e e n s t e sults in light of their own experience and kno re w c l- eived from outside bodies in exchange for arti- edge of the sector. These summaries were t c a l k e e s, n  need to be investigated in greater detail. into account in the final analysis. Numerical data is deliberately reported in its raw state so that readers will have maximum freedom Respecting Anonymity in Publishing Resu i l n t   s interpreting it
. To obtain the maximum numerical data, it was nec- ess to and a  n ry e   ws   p g a u p a e r r a s  n i t n  e t e h   e t   h s e u   r a v n e o y. n  T y h m e i   t r y e   s o u f l   t t s h  c e o   l p le e c o t p e F l d e or practical purposes, data is reported in are therefore treated globally. This does not allo E w uros.For other rates, see the currency con- for the most precise analysis but it was the sine qu v a erter site (ww.oanda.com) for October 2001. non for obtaining the information requested.