Journalists from francophone West Africa have experienced military dictatorships or one-party systems for many years. Gérard Guèdègbé, media consultant from Benin, interviewed nine important media personalities on behalf of the KAS Media Africa Programme and spoke with them about their experiences in the past and the challenges facing journalism today. The new KAS publication "Presse francophone en Afrique de l'Ouest: Expériences et Réflexions de pionniers"  showcases these interviews.