| Algeria |
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In Algeria, which is still reeling from a long civil war and authoritarian rule, and where the army is the key power holder, the independent press is the only free public space that escapes state control. In spite of the extreme political and security conditions since the army declared a state of emergency in 1992 - which is still in place – the Algerian press has undergone explosive development. The number of major national newspapers multiplied in the 1990s and, for the first time, a truly free press emerged. In spite of the aggressive policy of “arabisation”, which the state adopted to break up with the French colonial inheritance, the Algerian press continues to bear the print of the French influence. Francophone newspapers are still the favorite among the educated elite, even though the Arab-language newspapers have witnesses a great development, winning larger readership than the French-language newspapers in the past years, and acquiring a stronger journalistic profile. However, the conditions under which the Algerian newspapers have to work are far from being fair and free. In the 1990s, Algerian journalist paid dearly for their newly acquired freedom. While the armed radical groups assassinated over 70 journalists between 1993 and 1998, the government imprisoned many and prosecuted even more using the emergency laws of 1992. Furthermore, in 2001 the authorities passed an amendment to the penal code, imposing tougher penalties on press ‘transgressions’ against the President and other high standing state officials. As if the draconic legal sanctions were not sufficient, the authorities often use subterfuges, such as rarely followed and upheld administrative and financial regulations, to attack outspoken journalists and newspapers, as was the case with Le Matin and its editor-in-chief, Mohamed Benchikou. Publishers, editors and journalists alike suffer from the lack of independent and strong professional organizations that defend their interests and aim at improving their working conditions and regulate the relations with the authorities. Another aspect that increases the vulnerability of Algerian journalists is that a majority amongst them are of a very young age. The Algerian newspapers also face serious problems in relation to printing facilities; out of six major printing establishments the government owns five. The state and its institutions are still the major advertisers, which exposes the independent newspapers to governmental pressures and can explain the widespread culture of self-censorship among most newspapers. Did You Know? The first Algerian newspaper, Al Mubashir, was established in 1847 by order of the French King Louis-Philip. Al Mubashir was the third newspaper to appear in the Arab world and continued to be the official newspaper until Algeria became an independent state in 1962. |
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| Al Fadjr |
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Language: Arabic
Established: 2000 Published daily
An independent newspaper, Al Fadjr often adopts tabloid-style headlines, yet it provides good coverage of national issues, such as illegal immigration by sea to Europe as well as social issues, such as lack of decent public housing and local/regional issues, such as the neglect of basic services in the provinces, from lack of post services to broken-down sewage system. Al Fadjr has a popular weekly feature on popular literature written by the well-known journalist Khadija Al Sou'aydi who is specialised on popular literature. Website: http://www.al-fadjr.com |
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| Echorouk El Yawmi |
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Language: Arabic
Established: 1990 (under the name Echorouk Al Arabi) Published daily An independent newspaper and the second largest in distribution, Echorouk El Yawmi provides serious news coverage especially on national politics and security issues. The newspaper publishes special dossiers documenting the Islamic insurgency. Besides the usual sports, business and art supplements, Echorouk El Yawmi has a large health supplement. In 2006, the paper lost a libel case raised in Algerian courts by the Libyan leader Colonel Muammar Gaddafi, who accused the newspaper of harming the relations between Algeria and Libya in publishing an article claiming Libyan interference with the Tuareq tribes of Algeria. Echorouk El Yawmi comes out in Berliner format and also publishes an English-language version, the first and the best in this largely francophone country. Website: http://www.echoroukonline.com |
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| El Khabar |
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Language: Arabic
Established: 1990 Published daily The leading independent newspaper with the largest distribution, El Khabar provides critical and in-depth coverage of political news with special emphasis on corruption cases involving influential businesspeople close to the ruling elite and the abuse of power by the central and local government officials. El Khabar is one of few Arab newspapers that provides professional caricatures, both in relation to the biting humor and the technical excellence. The paper comes in a modern Berliner format and has an excellent website. El Khabar is collectively owned by a founding group of editors and journalists. Website: http://www.elkhabar.com |
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| El Watan |
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Language: French
Established: 1990 Published daily The leading and the oldest independent newspaper. El Watan provides critical news coverage of the national political scene and consistent, focused and well-written daily chief editorials. In spite of its attempt to keep an equal distance to the government and the Islamist movement, FIS, its editor Omar Belhouchet was imprisoned by the first and survived an assassination attempt by the second. He received the WAN Golden Pen of Freedom in 1994. In response to El Watan's critical editorial line, the authorities have been subjecting the paper to arrests and a long series of judicial prosecutions over the years. The newspaper has unrelentingly pursued corruption cases, which plague the oil-rich country with huge social inequities. This assiduity has caused the newspaper a libel case by a former business tycoon Achour Abderahmane, who is currently serving a prison sentence for embezzling billions of dinars from the National Bank of Algeria. El Watan has special regional sections (Oran Info, Kabylie Info etc.), which provide in-depth reporting on regional issues. Together with the leading Arab-language daily El Khabar they have established a shared advertisement agency and initiated a cooperation to distribute their newspapers in order to free themselves from depending on state advertising and the state-owned distribution system. El Watan has a good website and its articles are written in excellent French. Website: http://www.elwatan.com |
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| Le Quotidien d'Oran |
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Language: French
Established: 1994 Published daily An independent newspaper based in the second largest Algerian city of Oran, Le Quotidien d'Oran has despite its regional character succeeded in becoming a leading national daily thanks to its courageous and critical journalism. It provides a wide range of editorials under the special feature L'Actualité vue autrement, which carries well-known columnists such as Riahd Bouriche and Aissa Hireche. In Raïna Raïkoum, (Our Opinion Your Opinion), readers are given space to express their opinions. Le Quotidien d'Oran is published in tabloid format with a colourful front page and few splashy headlines, focusing instead on analysis of national politics and security issues, mainly conflicts between the authorities and the Islamist military groups active in the country. Website: http://www.quotidien-oran.com |
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| Liberté |
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Language: French
Established: 1992 Published daily A leading liberal newspaper with close ties to the business community, Liberté is an arch-republican and anti anti-Islamist. It provides mainly reporting and analysis on national politics and security issues (conflicts between the authorities and the Islamist military groups active in the country). The engagement of this Algiers-based newspaper in the defence of freedom of expression has incited the wrath of both the so-called secular authorities and the Islamic radicals. The public authorities' repeated harassment and suspensions of its print edition pushed Liberté to become one of the first Algerian dailies to go online, which made it available to the large Algerian community in France. A special and very popular feature of Liberté is the front-page caricature. The exceptionally talented caricaturist Ali Dilem, provides stinging comments on Algerian news events. Website: http://www.liberte-algerie.com |
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