| Libya |
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The newspapers in the richest Arab-African
nation work under some of the worst conditions for press freedom in the world.
All the newspapers are either directly or indirectly owned by the government.
Besides the TV-stations and radios of the neighbouring countries Egypt, Italy
and Tunisia, the internet provides the only access to uncensored news. The
authorities have shut down a number of news websites in the past years. Libyans
who dare write critically about the regime and especially its leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi - the longest serving ruler
in the Arab world - on websites based outside the country face trumped up
charges and imprisonment. Most, if not all, newspapers in Libya are published
by the state owned company General Press Corporation. Did you know? That one of the oldest Arab newspapers in Northern Africa, the Occidental Tripoli, was published in Tripoli in 1866 by the Ottoman governor Nadim Pasha. Occidental Tripoli was published in both Arabic and Ottoman Turkish, the official language of the Ottoman Empire. The influential European Consuls had established their own French-language newspaper already in 1827. |
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| Al Fajr al Jadeed |
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Language: Arabic A government-owned newspaper, Al Fajr al Jadeed is an extended arm of the official Libyan
news agency. The paper fills
its pages with the activities and pictures of Gaddafi and provides uniquely uncritical coverage
of the policies and initiatives of the government. Al Fajr al Jadeed produces
a bi-monthly publication in English. Website: http://www.alfajraljadeed.com |
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| Al Jamahiria |
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Language: Arabic Even though government-owned, Al Jamahiria does not focus exclusively on news related to Gaddafi. It has a long list of columnists, most of whom
give voice to the official Libyan policies when they write about political issues. Al Jamahiria produces four supplements; on sports, social issues, business and art.
Website: http://www.aljamahiria.com |
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| Al Shames |
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Language: Arabic A government owned-newspaper established by
Gaddafi when he was a student at high
school, Al Shames provides a rather sensational news coverage
of political and social issues, such as the Iraqi conflict and the affair of
the Bulgarian nurses accused of willingly contaminating Libyan children with
HIV. Website: http://www.alshames.com |
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| Tripoli Post |
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Language: English A pro-government newspaper, where the
pictures and activities of Gaddafi are never absent. Tripoli Post does, however, provide a
good coverage of the new business opportunities that are arising after the
lifting of international sanctions following the Libyan government’s
renouncement of its secret mass weapon program. Tripoli Post has an excellent website. Website: http://www.tripolipost.com |
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