Blandine A. KONFO¹, Jean Euloge GBAGUIDI^1,

In Benin as elsewhere, the Media has always played a major role in transmitting, explaining and commenting on news of major political, economic, social and cultural, national and international current events. However, the vast majority of media outlets in West Africa in general and Benin in particular are not profitable. Many organs survive on meagre state subsidies or through unsavoury practices. In this essay, we assessed the State's Support to the Beninese Media. The methodology used consisted in analysing the bibliography and carrying out interviews and surveys at the level of the institutions responsible for managing state support for the press. The results show that the allocation of this aid has not fundamentally benefited media outlets, let alone media professionals, who are struggling to develop. The Beninese Media is prey to the evils that are hindering its emergence and which unfortunately discourage the actors in the field from the professionalism they should show. The authorities are aware of this and this has led to the creation of the Media Development Support/Assistance Fund (FADEM), which effectiveness has yet to be demonstrated. It is therefore essential to rethink the ways in which Media is supported.

private press, financing, operation, state aid/support