Article 14 of Algeria's Information Act (no. 90-07 of April 3, 1990) provides for the freedom of all periodical publications. The abolition of the State's monopoly on print media brought in its wake a proliferation of publications. Several publications, however, are subject to the influence of political and business interests, which subverts their editorial independence. Furthermore, the State monopoly in the audio-visual sector continues to remain in force, after timid signs of opening up in 1990 and later in 1997. Although the absence of pluralism at the national level is compensated for...
UNESCO field offices: Rabat
For a long time, the Mauritanian audio-visual sector was dominated by the two state-run media outlets - Radio Mauritanie and Télévision de Mauritanie, but with the July 2010 adoption by the National Assembly of a draft bill on the liberalisation of the audio-visual sector, the media landscape has begun to change. However, despite a rather favourable environment, the Mauritanian media is unable to take full advantage of the available opportunities due to a lack of specialist and quality training for media professionals. Mauritania's first journalism school is still in the design phase, and...
The crucial role played by the media in strengthening the democratic process and pluralism in Tunisia since January 14, 2011, is increasingly recognised by Tunisian society in general, and by the country's political and civil-society authorities in particular. The current situation calls for journalists who are highly competent and versatile. The need has become all the more pressing with the emergence of more than 112 new publications, and temporarily, 12 new radios (including 8 regional radios) on the media landscape. Not to mention the television channels and electronic journals which...
In Tunisia, both the print press and broadcasting were tightly controlled by public authorities. The mainstream press toed the party line and authorities regularly blocked access to alternate news sources. In the wake of the January 2011 popular revolt, many journalists have been able to enjoy new-found freedoms. The new government will now be faced with the difficult task of ensuring a smooth democratic transition, involving: 1) Creating a favourable environment for the media to fulfil their democratic potential will be essential in this process. 2) Putting in place new media laws. These...
Media in Egypt occupy a highly influential position within the Arab world, and on a superficial level Egyptian journalists enjoy the right to exercise press freedom, as guaranteed within its Constitution. The reality under the governance of Hosni Mubarak however, saw the press regularly subject to restrictive laws which violated international press freedom standards. In Tunisia too, both the print press and broadcasting media were under tight government control, with President Ben Ali's authorities controlling access to news sources and ensuring online censorship. The recent popular...
In recent years, Mauritania has witnessed rapid development of its print media and audiovisual sector, with increased plurality and freedom of expression. However in spite of this favourable environment, media professionals in the country lack specialist and quality training which in turn puts particular strain on public service media due to competition within the audiovisual sector. There is also widespread discrimination against female Mauritanian journalists both in terms of their position within local media organizations and also the topics which they are chosen to report on. The aim...
In an environment where many working journalists lack specialist training and knowledge, and where many societal groups are not given a voice in the context of media, there is increased pressure on the academic world to bring about change to this negative situation in the MENA region through the delivery of quality journalism education at university level. Academic courses have the means to expose journalism students to the need for increased diversity in reporting, and a wider reflection of voices from social groups which are currently underrepresented in the media. The Media Diversity...
Investigative journalism is of paramount importance to any societal change as it has the potential to increase the transparency and accountability of governments and institutions for the benefit of local communities. In the Arab world however, journalists are impeded by a lack of press freedom and plurality as well as a lack of tradition for in-depth journalistic investigations. Much of the journalistic training delivered to date in this region has focused on theory rather than practice and has done little to support well-documented journalistic production or ensure publication. This...
In spite of significant progress over the past 20 years in increasing the representation of women in all sectors of public life (including the media), the portrayal of women in the Moroccan media today remains largely negative and stereotyped. In response to this, Morocco's journalism training institution, ISIC, will integrate gender perspectives in its journalism curricula with the aim of contributing to a culture of equality in the Moroccan media. In doing so, ISIC will use the models developed by the UNESCO Office in Rabat, based on the UNESCO Model Curricula for Journalism Education,...
The absence of a journalism school and training at the University of Nouakchott, is a serious handicap for media development and the actual exercise of freedom of expression in Mauritania. In Mauritania, practising journalists possess little or no qualifications and receive their training on the job, and often go on courses, study trips or scholarships abroad, offered by the UNESCO Office or other international cooperation agencies. Most of the journalists at Radio Mauritanie - the only radio station in the country - were recruited at the end of the 60s and will soon be retiring. As such,...
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