Media Landscape Facts: Tunisia » Media
Media
Media Landscape Facts: 7th version, May 2012
Produced by African Communication and Media Progress www.media-progress.net (Ingeline Bonde)
In a time of fundamental change, these media landscape facts must obviously be updated frequently. We would be grateful for your feed-back, information, and corrections to our pioneering work. Please write: contact@media-progress.net
1.Public radio and TV
2.Private radio and TV
3. On-line media
4.Press agency and print media
1. Public radio and TV
By the end of 2009, more than 90 % of the Tunisian territory had access to digital broadcasting according to the regional report on public service broadcasters issued by Panos Institute in 2012.
The interim government under Caïd Essebsi (until December 2011) and the 2012 government under Hamadi Jebili both appointed new directors of the state-owned media. In the case of the Jebili-government the appointments are a result of the fact that the decree promulgated on 2 November 2011 concerning the audio-visual communication authority HAICA has still not been passed. The HAICA is supposed to be responsible for nominating candidates to head public media organizations to the prime minister. In this case, the prime minister appointed the media directors (and news editors) himself, arguing that the interim posts were vacant. (http://en.rsf.org/tunisia-hundreds-of-journalists-protest-at-10-01-2012,41656.html)
Many employees in state-owned media, who were hired during the former regime, remain in place even though they have no qualifications in media or journalism. The Télévision tunisienne has only 300 journalists out of approx. 1,300 employees. Protesters have camped outside the TV-building for months calling for a purge of politically appointed employees. In the last part of April 2012, several ministers from the religious government party Ennadha suggested that state-owned media be privatised, claiming that this type of ownership should not exist in a democracy. Journalists interpret this as a reaction to media criticism of the government.
L'ETABLISSEMENT DE LA RADIODIFFUSION - TÉLÉVISION TUNISIENNE(public):
L'Etablissement de la Radiodiffusion - Télévision Tunisienne is the state-owned broadcaster that is responsible for the two national tv-channels: Télévision Tunisienne 1 and Télévision Tunisienne 2. An additional 4 new state broadcasters are planned : Atta'alimia» (educational), «Al Jihawia» (information), «Al Dinnia» (religious) et «Al Riadhia» (sports) Only the latter has received a broadcast licence until now.
Télévision Tunisienne 1 (pre-2011 "Tunisie 7", also known as « Al Watania 1 ») :
Télévision Tunisienne 2 (pre-2011 "Tunisie 21", also known as « Al Watania » 2): In January 2012 this station was transformed into a regional broadcaster focusing on regional information.
E-mail: web@tunisiatv.tn
Website: www.tunisiatv.tn
Radio tunisienne:
The state-owned Radio Tunisienne, has four channels (Radio Nationale (1938), Radio Tunisie Culture (2006), Radio Jeunes (1995), and Radio Tunis Chaîne Internationale (RTCI - 1960) in addition to 5 regional stations.
Adresse: 71 Avenue de la Liberté -1002 Tunis
Tel: +216 71 847 300
Fax: +216 71 780 993
E-mail: portail@radiotunisienne.tn
Website: www.radiotunisienne.com
Radio Le Kef(1991):
Adresse postale: Avenue Mongi Slim - 7100 Le Kef
Tél: 78.227.700
Fax: 78.227.395
E-mail: radiokef@email.ati.tn
Website: www.radiotunisienne.com
Radio Sfax (1961):
Covers these gouvernerats: Sfax / Sidi Bouzid / Gabès / Tataouine / Kairouan / Kébili
Services: programmes / programmation / informatique / sport / informations / musique / documentation / exploitation radiophonique / production télévisuelle / exploitation télévisuelle / affaires administratives et financières / transport / formation.
Personnel: 150 (journalistes, animateurs et collaborateurs)
Adresse: Route de Menzel Chaker - 3058 Sfax
Tel: 74.240.655
Fax: 74.247.971
E-mail: radio-sfax@email.ati.tn
Website: www.radiotunisienne.com
Radio Monastir (1977):
Covers these gouvernorats: Monastir - Sousse - Mahdia - Kairouan - Nabeul.
Services: sous direction de l'information / sous direction des programmes / sous direction des services techniques / service de production télévisuelle / service de documentation.
Nombre de journalistes : 139
Adresse: Radio Monastir - 5000 Monastir
Tel: 73.462.900
Fax: 73.460.807
E-mail: radiomonastir@email.ati.tn
Website: www.radiotunisienne.com
Radio Tataouine (1993):
Services: informations / maintenance / programmation / exploitation radiophonique / administration et finances / programmes.
Cadre de l'information : 11 journalistes, 2 animateurs, 13 techniciens et 20 administratifs (fonctionnaires + responsables)
Adresse: Cité du 7 novembre - 3263 Tataouine
Tel: 75.870.188
Fax: 75.870.912
E-mail: radiotataouine@email.ati.tn
Website: www.radiotunisienne.com
Radio Gafsa (1991)
Adresse: Avenue Habib Bourguiba, 2100 Gafsa
Website: www.radiotunisienne.com
2. Private radio and TV
Pre-January 14th 2011 media
Before January 14, 2011, the liberalisation of audiovisual media was firmly controlled by the state. The procedure of allocating broadcast licences or frequencies was not transparent. Moreover, the authorities were not obliged to justify their decisions.
The interim Caïd Essebsi-government (until December 2011) appointed legal administrators of media owned by members of the former president's family, and which now belong to the Tunisian state: Radio Zitouna, the media group Dar Assabah and Shems FM. (TAP, 7.9.2011)
Radio Mosaïque (2003, former owner Belhassen Trabelsi)
Services : actualité / programmation / production / sport / technique / administration et finances. Market leader in Tunis area. Educates its staff on how to organize political debates and cover elections.
Adresse: BP. 143 - 1073 Montplaisir.
Tel: 71282267 71 280 111
Fax: 71282316
E-mail: dg@mosaiquefm.net
Website: http://www.mosaiquefm.net/
Hannibal TV (2005, former owner Belhassen Trabelsi)
Adresse: 85, avenue du 13 août-Chotrana II La Soukra, 2036-Tunisie
Tel: +216 70 944 944
Fax: +216 71 759 483
E-mail: hannibaltv@planet.tn
Website: www.hannibaltv.com.tn
Radio El Jawhara (2005)
Based in Sousse and covers the Center-East of Tunisia. According to http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jawhara_FM the success ofthis radio derives from the style of the radio presenters, their regional dialect and the treatment of taboo issues such as sexuality.
Adresse: Radio Jawhara FM Rue des Orangers, Khzema Est,BP 120,4051, Sousse,Tunisie
Tél: + 216 73 275 800 / +216 73 279 033
Fax: + 216 73 275 810
E-mail: direction@jawharafm.net
Website: http://www.jawharafm.net/
Nessma TV (2007, part of the Mediaset-group)
Following the broadcast of the Cannes award-winning cartoon « Persepolis » showing pictures of God, Salafists attacked the private TV-station "Nessma" and the house of the director. Users of Facebook have strongly attacked and criticized the broadcast of the film. Two days later the director apologized for having broadcast the film. The demand by a political party to stop Nessma broadcasts until after the elections has been rejected by the court. The trial of the director charged with having undermined sacred Muslim values has been postponed several times until May 2012. The perpetrators have not been charged for having attempted to burn down the tv-station and the house of the director.
Adresse: 14, Rue 8006, Monplaisir, 1073 Tunis
Tel: +216 71 90 92 22
Fax: +216 71 90 36 35
Website: http://www.nessma.tv.
Shems Radio (2010, former owner Cyrine Ben Ali Maboruk).
Covers Tunis and Sfax
Adresse: 5, rue du Lac d'Annecy, les Berges du Lac
Tel: (+216) 31 101 700, (+216) 71 167 070
E-mail: contact@shemsfm.net
Website: http://www.shemsfm.net/
Express FM (2010, founders: Mourad Gueddiche and Naoufel Ben Rayana belonging to the ousted president’s entourage)
May be received in major urban centers.
Adresse: 1, rue Monastir 2045, l'Aouina - Tunis, Tunisie
Tel: (+216) 71 760 769
Fax: (+216) 71 758 444
E-mail: contact@expressfm.tn
Website: www.radioexpressfm.com
Radio Zitouna (2003, former owner Sakr El Materi)
Religious radio station.
Adresse: 61 Ave. Habib Bourguiba, 2016 Carthage Hannibal
Website: www.zitounafm.net
Radio 6 Tunis (2007, Nozha Ben Mouhamed, Syndicat tunisien des Radio Libres).
This first independent Tunisian radio has broadcast online since October 2009 on http://radio6tunis.net. Allotted a broadcast license in July 2011.
Adresse: STRL BP n 395 Publiposte MenzahVI Cité Jamil Tunis 2091
Tel: +216 98 49 67 44
Fax: +216 71 75 12 98
E-mail: syndicatunisien_radiolibres@yahoo.com
Website: www.radio6tunis.net. Not found to be working in April 2012. However the Facebook profile is up to date.
Radio Kalima (Sedim Ben Sedrine)
Independent citizen radio which has broadcast online since 2008, initially from outside Tunisia. The radio protested on several occasions during the spring of 2011 against not having automatically been granted a broadcast license and accused the « Instance Supérieure pour la réforme de l'information et de la communication » (INRIC) for not doing so for political reasons. Allotted a broadcast license in July 2011. Received the "Prix Concordia" for its defence of press freedom on May 3, 2011.
Tel: 70166 141
E-mail: contact@kalima-tunisie.info, redaction@kalima-tunisie.info
Website: www.kalima-tunisie.info/fr/
Al-Mustaqillah TV
Broadcasts via satellite from London. The station is owned by Dr. Mohammed El-Hachmi Hamdi, the leader of one of the three political parties in the 2012 coalition government. According to the survey of media election coverage undertaken by a number of Tunisian civil society organisations, the tv station exclusively informed about El-Hachmi Hamdi's party prior to the elections ín October 2011 in violation of the election coverage regulation requiring Tunisian medias to give a balanced presentation of political parties. Owned by Dr. Mohammed El-Hachmi Hamdi, opponent to ousted president Ben Ali. Broadcasts by satellite from London.
Website: www.com/mustaqillah
Zeitouna TV.
Zeitouna TV is owned by formerly outlawed Islamist party, Ennadha, and broadcasts by satellite.
Post-January 14th 2011 media
Post-revolution allocation of frequencies and broadcast licences was undertaken by the "Instance nationale pour la réforme de l'information et de la communication» (INRIC) which received more than 100 applications to establish private radio and TV. INRIC recommended allocation of the new licenses to guarantee the Tunisian citizen the right to high-quality,free, independent and objective information, contributing to the consolidation of democracy. The radio and TV-broadcasters were required to conform to criteria such as political and religious independence, including independence from foreign influence, the obligation to employ professional editorial staff, to contribute to plurality and diversity, and to minimize media concentrations. None of the new radios would be able to broadcast nationally due to the lack of available frequencies. The NGOs IFEX and Amarc assisted during the allocation process.
INRIC recommended that the radios start broadcasting within six months after being awarded their preliminary license valid for one year. The body also recommended that community radio and TV pay a symbolic broadcasting fee. Other recommendations included the creation of a fund financed by the public budget for economic support of regional radios, private production of TV-programmes and the production of cultural and social programmes. The licenses were allocated to physical persons and not transferable to others.
In July 2011, INRIC granted radio broadcast licenses to:
El Karama (Sidi Bouzid): a generalist radio station targeting the young and inhabitants in the region focusing especially on social and cultural programmes. Intends to create a cultural center in connection with the radio station as well as the ''Festival d'Al Karam''. Founded by Chehab Hajloui, formerly employed by l'Etablissement de la Télévision tunisienne, the broadcasting started November 2011.
Website: www.karamafm.net
Chaambi FM (Kasserine): community radio, initially broadcasting on the internet from January 7th 2011. Its aim is to cover regional topics in order to contribute to improvements of the economic, social and political life of the gouvernerat.
Adresse : Complexe culturel de Kasserine, Avenue de l'Environnement, Kasserine 1200
Tel: (+216) 23 900 604, (+216) 77 41 22 33
Website: http://www.chaanbitv.com/contact.html. Last update of website news: March 20, 2012 (retrieved April 22, 2012)
Radio Oasis FM (Gabès): generalist, commercial, officially launched in December 2011. "La nouvelle radio émettra 18 heures par jour sur les fréquences 96.5 FM et 94.4 FM. Le siège social de la radio situé près des bureaux du gouvernorat de Gabès est doté d'un studio de diffusion en direct d'un autre destiné à la production.
Quant à la grille des programmes, elle sera composée de 36% d'émissions à vocation sociale, 25% consacrées aux loisirs, 8% à la culture, 6% à l'actualité et à la politique, 6% au sport, et 19% seront consacrés aux services et à l'habillage, selon la TAP »(10.november webmanagercenter.com)
Website : oasisfm.tn. (test page)
Ulysse FM (Medenine): community radio, commercial and tourism profile. Streams online
Website: ulyssetv.net.
Sawt El Manajem (Gafsa): cultural profile launched, March 2012. This community radio supported by UNESCO and Association mondiale des radiodiffuseurs communautaires (AMARC) is rooted in the 2008 protests in this region against unemployment, corruption and poverty. The station will focus on programmes where especially young people may voice their concerns on development, marginalisation, youth unemployment, and women's conditions. The managers of the station emphasise the importance of journalist education and media ethics. Experimental broadcasts in March 2012.
Co-founder: Fakem Boukadous, one of the famous journalists attempting to cover the 2008 protests.
Adresse : 21 Rue Houssine Bouzayen 2100 Gafsa GF
Sabra FM (Kairouan): cultural profile. Launched in January 2011, the station broadcasts on FM 988 and online around the clock to the gouvernerats of Siliana, Kasserine, Sidi Bouzid and Kairouan. It aims to focus on regional information including history, monuments, food, arts, costumes and traditions, artisans, literature etc. It will prioritise transparency, pluralism, independence and credibility. The station employs 30 people (the majority will be IPSI graduates) and has a network of 31 correspondents.
Adresse : Av. Abi Zamaa Balaoui, Kairouan.
Tel: 77 23 82 20
Website: radiosabrafm.net
Cap FM (Cap-Bon): commercial. Broadcasts on FM also as Podcasts.
Website: http://www.capradio.tn/fr/home.htm
Radio Oxygène (Bizerte): commercial, thematic, environmental. Une radio Généraliste de la région de Bizerte que vous pouvez aussi suivre sur le grand Tunis (fréquence 90.00) La radio se définit comme la voix de la région de Bizerte - Première radio écologique en Tunisie et Nord Afrique . also Podcasts
Tel: +216 72 462 461
E-mail: studio@oxygene.fm
Website: http://www.oxygene.fm/ is very dynamic and up to date
Kalima (Grand Tunis): generalist, commercial. See more information about this broadcaster in the section on pre-2011 media above.
Radio 6 (Grand Tunis) : community radio. This broadcaster streamed live until February 14th 2011 and after this date it broadcast on the FM-band. After being allotted a broadcast license in July 2011, it nevertheless gave up broadcasting in the fall of 2011, claiming lack of support from Office National de la télédiffusion (ONT) to the newly licenced radios. Prior to 14 January 2011, it had illegally imported broadcast equipment which was unavailable on the Tunisian market. People connected to Radio 6 are reported to have participated in the training arranged by UNESCO and AMARC prior to the launch of Sawt El Majarem in Gafsa in March 2012, however.
Website: radio6tunis.net. The site only streams a jingle. The Facebook profile is not up to date.
Kif FM (Grand Tunis): generalist, commercial. Claims on its homepage dated November 9th 2011 to plan to proceed from its last technical tests to broadcasting within a few days (page accessed April 2012). No further information available.
Website: kiffm-tn.com
Ibtissema FM (Grand Tunis) : commercial, thematic, light entertainment. Its website http://www.ifm.tn/ not active, but according to its Facebook profile http://www.facebook.com/RadioIfm, which is up to date, it broadcasts on the FM band and online through Facebook.
In September 2011, INRIC allocated licences to the following TV-broadcasters:
Télévision Tunisienne Sportive (part of the l'Etablissement de la Télévision Tunisienne). The channel is scheduled as a digital broadcaster.The start has been postponed unitl 2013 for economic reasons.
El Hiwar Ettounsi (Tahar Belhassine): At its launch in September 2011, the channel planned to employ 30 permanent staff and 200 occasional staff in its offices in Tunis, Sousse-Monastir and Mahdia. The aim of the station was to have an office in most gouvernorats staffed by a journalist and a journalist/camera man. The channel profile was to be national and regional information, debates and reportage on the ground.
Website: http://www.elhiwar-ettounsi.net under construction (April 2012).
Golden TV (Mohamed Hannachi): Facebook profile of this entity seems inactive. No further information available.
Khomsa TV (Mohamed Moncef Lemkachar): Facebook profile updated. No further information available.
Ulysse TV (Nasr Ali Chakroun): Facebook profile not updated.
Lack of finances and experience on behalf of the newly licenced radio stations as well as lack of flexibility by ONT concerning the broadcasting fee prevented most of the radio stations from broadcasting prior to the October 2011 elections. INRIC urged the Office National de télédiffusion (ONT) to make the cost of broadcast cheaper for the new non-commercial radio stations. ONT allowed for broadcast without charging the stations in for the remaining months of 2011 but only consented to a 20 % discount of the broadcast cost for the year 2012. However, INRIC's allocation of broadcast licences and frequencies was criticised by www.business.com as lacking in transparency. "The managers of the newly licensed media are learning that their investment in machinery, saleries, and broadcasting fee to ONT do not correspond with their meagre revenue from broadcast commercials. Consequently, the content of the channels is virtually identical" (observatorie-medias-tunisiens.centerblog.net/1212-viabilite-des-nouvelles-chaines-radio-tv).
El Karama (Sidi Bouzid)
Generalist radio station targeting the young and inhabitants in the region focusing especially on social and cultural programmes. Intends to create a cultural center in connection with the radio station as well as the ''Festival d'Al Karam''. Founded by Chehab Hajloui, formerly employed by l'Etablissement de la Télévision tunisienne, the broadcasting started November 2011.
Website: www.karamafm.net
Chaambi FM (Kasserine)
Community radio, initially broadcasting on the internet from January 7th 2011. Its aim is to cover regional topics in order to contribute to improvements of the economic, social and political life of the gouvernerat.
Adresse: Complexe culturel de Kasserine, Avenue de l'Environnement, Kasserine 1200
Tel: (+216) 23 900 604, (+216) 77 41 22 33
Website: http://www.chaanbitv.com/contact.html. Last update of website news: March 20, 2012 (retrieved April 22, 2012)
Radio Oasis FM (Gabès):
Generalist, commercial, officially launched in December 2011. "La nouvelle radio émettra 18 heures par jour sur les fréquences 96.5 FM et 94.4 FM. Le siège social de la radio situé près des bureaux du gouvernorat de Gabès est doté d'un studio de diffusion en direct d'un autre destiné à la production. Quant à la grille des programmes, elle sera composée de 36% d'émissions à vocation sociale, 25% consacrées aux loisirs, 8% à la culture, 6% à l'actualité et à la politique, 6% au sport, et 19% seront consacrés aux services et à l'habillage, selon la TAP »(10.november webmanagercenter.com)
Directors : Marzougui Boutayeb, Hajjej Ben Youssef
Website: oasisfm.tn. (test page)
Ulysse FM (Medenine)
Community radio, commercial and tourism profile. Streams online
Website: ulyssetv.net.
Sawt El Manajem (Gafsa)
Cultural profile, launched, March 2012. This community radio supported by UNESCO and Association mondiale des radiodiffuseurs communautaires (AMARC) is rooted in the 2008 protests in this region against unemployment, corruption and poverty. The station will focus on programmes where especially young people may voice their concerns on development, marginalisation, youth unemployment, and women's conditions. The managers of the station emphasise the importance of journalist education and media ethics. Experimental broadcasts in March 2012.
Co-founder: Fakem Boukadous, one of the famous journalists attempting to cover the 2008 protests.
Adresse : 21 Rue Houssine Bouzayen 2100 Gafsa GF
Sabra FM (Kairouan)
Cultural profile. Launched in January 2011, the station broadcasts on FM 988 and online around the clock to the gouvernerats of Siliana, Kasserine, Sidi Bouzid and Kairouan. It aims to focus on regional information including history, monuments, food, arts, costumes and traditions, artisans, literature etc. It will prioritise transparency, pluralism, independence and credibility. The station employs 30 people (the majority will be IPSI graduates) and has a network of 31 correspondents.
Adresse : Av. Abi Zamaa Balaoui, Kairouan.
Tel: 77 23 82 20
Website: radiosabrafm.net
Cap FM (Cap-Bon)
Commercial. Broadcasts on FM also as Podcasts.
Website: http://www.capradio.tn/fr/home.htm
Radio Oxygène (Bizerte)
Commercial, thematic, environmental. Une radio Généraliste de la région de Bizerte que vous pouvez aussi suivre sur le grand Tunis (fréquence 90.00) La radio se définit comme la voix de la région de Bizerte - Première radio écologique en Tunisie et Nord Afrique . also Podcasts
Tel: +216 72 462 461
E-mail: studio@oxygene.fm
Website: http://www.oxygene.fm/ is very dynamic and up to date
Kalima (Grand Tunis)
Generalist, commercial. See more information about this broadcaster in the section on pre-2011 media above.
Radio 6 (Grand Tunis)
Community radio. This broadcaster streamed live until February 14th 2011 and after this date it broadcast on the FM-band. After being allotted a broadcast license in July 2011, it nevertheless gave up broadcasting in the fall of 2011, claiming lack of support from Office National de la télédiffusion (ONT) to the newly licenced radios. Prior to 14 January 2011, it had illegally imported broadcast equipment which was unavailable on the Tunisian market. People connected to Radio 6 are reported to have participated in the training arranged by UNESCO and AMARC prior to the launch of Sawt El Majarem in Gafsa in March 2012, however.
Website: radio6tunis.net. The site only streams a jingle. Facebook profile not up to date.
Kif FM (Grand Tunis)
Generalist, commercial. Claims on its homepage dated November 9th 2011 to plan to proceed from its last technical tests to broadcasting within a few days (page accessed April 2012). No further information available.
Website: kiffm-tn.com
Ibtissema FM (Grand Tunis)
Commercial, thematic, light entertainment.
Website: http://www.ifm.tn/ not active According to its Facebook profile http://www.facebook.com/RadioIfm, which is up to date, it broadcasts on the FM band and online through Facebook.
In September 2011, INRIC allocated licences to the following TV-broadcasters:
Télévision Tunisienne Sportive (part of the l'Etablissement de la Télévision Tunisienne)
The channel is scheduled as a digital broadcaster. No further information available.
El Hiwar Ettounsi (Tahar Belhassine)
Broadcasts by satellite. In March 2012 salafists attacked employees of this broadcaster covering a union meeting along with the participants in the meeting.
Website: http://www.elhiwar-ettounsi.net under construction (April 2012).
Golden TV (Mohamed Hannachi)
Facebook profile of this entity seems inactive. No further information available.
Khomsa TV (Mohamed Moncef Lemkachar)
Facebook profile updated. No further information available.
Ulysse TV (Nasr Ali Chakroun)
Facebook profile not updated.
Tunisia World Television: (Issam Kherigi)
Generalist profile with political debates, entertainment and film. It is scheduled to start satellite broadcasting by March 2012. No further information available.
Lack of finances and experience on behalf of the newly licenced radio stations as well as lack of flexibility by ONT concerning the broadcasting fee prevented most of the radio stations from broadcasting prior to the October 2011 elections. ONT allowed for broadcast without charging the stations in for the remaining months of 2011 but only consented to a 20 % discount of the broadcast cost for the year 2012. "The managers of the newly licensed media are learning that their investment in machinery, salaries and broadcasting fee to ONT (allegedly 130 000 dinars annually) do not correspond with their meagre revenue from broadcast commercials. Consequently, the content of the various channels is virtually identical, the staff is not paid" etc. (http://observatoire-medias-tunisiens.centerblog.net/1818-viabilite-des-nouvelles-chaines-radio-tv-).
INRIC's allocation of broadcast licences and frequencies was criticised by www.business.com as lacking transparency.
In addition, other new satellite stations have emerged:
Ettounsiya (Al-Tounisiya)
Generalist TV channel broadcasting in Arabic launched by Cactus in March 2011 (a controversial production company previously co-owned by a relative of the ousted president) broadcasts on satellite, hence does not require a broadcast licence. During the electoral campaign this TV-broadcaster produced and broadcast several debate programmes with political candidates that violated the rules on political publicity.
Al Janoubia TV (Rabii Baaboura and Farhat Jouini Al Janoubia)
Refused a licence by INRIC because its application did not fulfil requirements. It was launched March 20, 2012 as a satellite broadcaster targeting the Tunisian diaspora and has opened offices in Lyon (France), Geneva (Switzerland), Tunis and Zarzis (Tunisia) in addition to correspondents throughout Tunisia.
Homepage: http://www.aljanoubiatv.com/: under construction (22 April 2012)
Tounessna (Abdelhamid Ben Abdallah)
Scheduled to start broadcasting by satellite from Bahrain and Jordan in 2012. An article in Tuniscope (19.10.2011) describes the press conference presentation of the broadcaster as unclear and without any precise information as to the editorial line or programme outline which were still being considered or the staff which was still not recruited. The businessman founder explained that he considered TV a commercial enterprise and seized the opportunity to launch himself as a political candidate for the elections a week later.
Al Kalam founded by a group of imams from Sfax, including current Minister of Religious Affairs, Nouredine Khadmi.
Broadcast profile: Islam in a Tunisian perspective, aiming at assisting Tunisians in search of religious answers to contemporary times. The channel was launched in December 2011. No further information available.
Al Mouwaten (Citizens' broadcaster), founder Narreddine Ben Haid
Streams its broadcasts on political and social issues through its Facebook profile http://www.facebook.com/canalcitoyen
In July 2011, the director of the private TV-station Nessma, Nabil Karoui, was reported to plan a second TV-channel dedicated for Maghreb expatriates living in Europe, but there is no more information on this. In January 2012, manager of the influential British "Islam Channel", Mohamed Ali Harrath, was reported to plan the launch of a Tunisian equivalent founded on a modern vision of Islam corresponding with the traditional Tunisian moderate interpretation. The station would have a 5 mill. Dinar budget and probably be called Zitouna. The Tunisian station will be located in Al Mourouj and employ approx. 100 people. There is no more information on these plans as of April 2012.
3. On-line media
Since the revolution, the number and variety of online media have exploded. Some sites publish independent journalism and analyses and other sites target dedicated young activists or introduce Tunisian citizens to political concepts and principles. Some sites allow users to publish information and analyses of Tunisian and foreign politics and others have a religious profile. Disturbances in April 2011 following controversial allegations by then interior minister published on Facebook and certain activists' sites, some of these sites were made temporarily inaccessible. The government's wish to re-impose internet censorship is being challenged in court. Please note that the list below is a non-exhaustive account of the proliferation of online media.
www.alternatives-citoyennes.sgdg.org: «Alternatives citoyennes est une initiative née de la volonté de deux personnes : Nadia Omrane et Meryem Marzouki. Journaliste à Tunis, Nadia assure la coordination générale de la rédaction. Chercheuse et responsable associative à Paris, Meryem assure la publication".
Alternatives citoyennes bénéficie des contributions, régulières ou non, d'un grand nombre de ces Tunisiens d'ici et d'ailleurs». Apparently, this on-line journal did not appear from December 2008 until March 2011.
E-mail: redaction@alternatives-citoyennes.sgdg.org.
Le Labo Politique d'Edupartage : www.edupartage.com/web/labopolitique: le site des acteurs de la Révolution tunisienne. Idées, propositions, critiques, coups de gueule... Inventons la Tunisie 2011 ! Toute contribution sera publiée, sous la seule réserve de respecter les règles élémentaires de la vie commune. Fais entendre tes convictions !
Takriz. "Le premier cyber groupe de reflexion tunisien, il fut fondé sur Internet en 1998 par deux jeunes tunisois Foetus et Waterman et reste à ce jour une prouesse technique et éditoriale qui a su défier la censure tunisienne et la repression policiere du regime de Ben Ali. Mission : Libérer la Tunisie de la langue de bois et installer une plateforme de pensée libre. Défendre notre liberté d'expression. Lutter contre la censure d'internet en Tunisie. Faire la révolution". Extranet et presse : www.takriz.net. Magazine : www.takriz.com. Twitter : www.twitter.com/takriz.Dailymotion : www.dailymotion.com/takriztv. Facebook: www.facebook.com/takrizo. This Facebook page was made (temporarily) inaccessible after the re-imposition of censorship in May 2011 following political uprisings.
Kapitalis : www.kapitalis.com Portail d'information en langue française dédié à la Tunisie et aux autres pays du Maghreb Arabe, Kapitalis est spécialisé dans l'information économique (entreprises, secteurs, opérateurs, acteurs, tendances, innovations, etc.). Kapitalis s'intéresse aussi aux autres domaines d'intérêt public, à savoir la culture, la société, la politique, etc... Le champ de couverture de Kapitalis s'étend aussi aux relations intermaghrébines, interarabes, arabo-africaines, euro-méditerranéennes, ainsi qu'aux relations Nord-Sud, Orient-Occident...
Businessnews : www.businessnews.com.tn « Business News est un journal électronique tunisien édité par la société Digital Media Company (DMC). Il s'adresse spécialement aux acteurs de la vie économique et politique, qu'ils soient chefs d'entreprises, hommes d'affaires, hommes politiques, banquiers, investisseurs de tous bords, communicateurs ou organismes spécialisés. Le journal met en ligne, en permanence et en temps réel, des informations d'ordre économique et technologique. Une actualité pointue est recueillie auprès de sources avérées et fiables. Elle est traitée, analysée et commentée par une équipe de journalistes compétents, conformément à l'éthique journalistique et aux exigences du métier. La production des articles est exclusivement l'oeuvre de la rédaction de Business News, sauf mention contraire.
Business News a démarré ses activités le 15 janvier 2008 et enregistre, en janvier 2011, une moyenne de 40.000 visites par jour. »
Adresse: Boulevard Hédi Nouira - Résidence Imen City - Appartement M 1 - 2037 Cité Ennasr II
Tel: (+216) 70.831.100 - 70.831.026 - 70.831.027
Fax: (+216)70.831.025
E-mail: mail@dmc.com.tn
Tekiano: www.tekiano.com. Independent political analysis, focus on technology and popular culture. "Tekiano.com est le nouveau né de la société IMG, éditrice de www.webmanagercenter.com »
Tel: 71 962 775/ 71 962 617/ 26 313 315
Fax: 71 962 429
E-mail: linatlili@tekiano@gmail.com
WMC Actualités: www.webmanagercenter.com. Online media with a political and business profile
Adresse: Rue Lac Victoria, Résidence Flamingo A12 ,Les Berges du Lac ,1053 Tunis
Tél: (+216) 71.962.775, (+216) 71.962.775, (+216) 21.18.18.18
Fax: (+216) 71.962.429
E-mail: img.dt@topnet.tn
Almasdar : www.almasdar.tn.
Arab-language version of WMC.
Other Arab-language news sites are http://www.alqendil.com, www.attounissia.com.tn, and http://www.aljarida.com.tn
www.fhimt.com: Fhimt.com is a citizen site which encourages contributions on politics, law, history, citizen activity, ICT, social media, and the social responsibility of media. The site also boasts very useful graphics of the Tunisian political landscape. Blocked prior to Jan.14 2011.
Nawaat: http://nawaat.org/portail/: "Nawaat.org est un blog collectif indépendant animé par des Tunisiens. Il donne la parole à tous ceux qui, par leur engagement citoyen, la prennent, la portent et la diffusent. Nos choix éditoriaux sont entre autres guidés par les préoccupations qui affectent le quotidien de nos compatriotes et de nos semblables. Lancé en 2004, Nawaat.org mue à nouveau en faisant évoluer sa plateforme technique. Conscient que la conquête de la liberté est un combat à mener au quotidien en totale indépendance, le blog de Nawaat est indépendant de toute association, organisation ou gouvernement et ne reçoit aucune subvention publique et n’est financée par aucun parti politique».
Nawaat.org received the 2011 Netizen Prize from Reporters Without Borders.
Tunisia Live: www.tunisia-live.net "Tunisia Live is a post revolution initiative that aims to reach out to the world and provide its readers with independent, verified, and comprehensive information". The site provides daily updates on press headlines in English, lists of "who's who" in politics, economy, journalism etc, sections on politics, business etc. with contributing articles by readers, provides various services (interviews, fixers, media monitoring).
Mag14: mag14.com launched August 2011 to provide a « new view on Tunisia » with general information, sport, media controversies, underground cultural events, technology. The site also carries analyses.
Adresse : 75, rue Ibn Hichem, 2058 Ariana, Tunisie.
Tél-Fax: (00.216) 20 216 787 - (00.216) 24 564 550
Email: info@mag14.com
Interior Ministry:www.facebook.com/ministere.interieur.tunisie
Tunisnews (www.tunisnews.net): «Un media moderne qui offre grâce au web des infos concernant la Tunisie, collectées, ordonnées et commentées par de simples Tunisiens qui respectent l'intelligence et la maturité de leurs concitoyens ».
EcoloMagTunisie: « ... ce site a pour vocation d'informer les internautes sur l'actualité et les évènements en Tunisie dans un monde aussi large qu'est celui de l'écologie ».
E-mail: ecolomagtunisie@gmail.com
La Tunisie vote, lancé le 14 juillet 2011. «Le projet vise à former des jeunes journalistes tunisiens. Ces articles seront postés régulièrement durant la période précédant le rendez-vous électoral du 23 octobre prochain qui verra l'élection de l'Assemblée Nationale Constituante. La Tunisie vote vise à donner une formation professionnelle à un réseau de jeunes journalistes tunisiens et à promouvoir leurs compétences en vue de réaliser des reportages et des enquêtes sur la réalité qui les entoure, sous la supervision d'une équipe de spécialistes tunisiens. Les jeunes journalistes tunisiens tireront profit de l'expertise qui sera mise à leur disposition pour qu'ils puissent trouver un emploi dans le secteur médiatique».
Les articles qui sont postés sur La Tunisie vote sont immédiatement traduits et publiés en trois langues (Arabe, Français et Anglais) pour garantir une certaine étendue aux informations qu'il recèle. Financé entièrement par le Ministère allemand des affaires étrangères.
Address: 4 rue du Mexique (Perpendicular to Avenue de la Liberté), Belvedere, 1002 Tunis
Tel and Fax: (216) 71 288 655
E-mail: bechirouarda@gmail.com
Homepage:www.latunisievote.org
speakouttunisia.com: a citizen journalism site aiming to teach citizens about digital media and online journalism. Speak Out Tunisia was created, in large part, by Tunisian PaCTE (Pacte des Compétences Tunisiennes Engagées), a citizen project formed immediately after the revolution to bring together Tunisians and supporters to help build a better Tunisia. PaCTE launched www.souti.org in April 2012, an interactive dialogue forum for citizens and members of the constituent assembly that encourages citizens to participate in the democratic process.
Tunisiehautdebit.com (2007): dedicated to ICT topics
Adresse : Résidence Sindebed 2 Bloc B, Angle Avenue de la république Rue Medhat Pacha et Rue n°2102 1001 Tunis.
E-mail : contact@tunitech.net
ch9alek.org: a community site aiming to verify rumors on the internet. Citizens are encouraged to submit rumors or attempt to verify those already submitted. The site is developed and updated in partnership with a Facebook admin group for citizens and journalists alike who seek reliable information.
observatoire-medias-tunisiens.centerblog.net/: "Une base de données de l'unité de recherche (communication) sur les médias tunisiens et la révolution".
Commercial sites with some news:
www.tunisienumerique.com: one of many on-line commercial news carriers basically transmitting news from other media.
www.espacemanager.com: focus on business news, marketing and finance.
http://tunispress.com: similar profile
4. Press agency and print media
Agence Tunis Afrique Presse - TAP
The official state-owned press agency is reported to need fundamental reform of its organisational, administrative and editorial structure in order to meet the new media competition following 14 January 2011. It is especially urgent to separate the administration from the journalist section, a problem that dates back to the media policy imposed by the previous regime, in order to perform as an independent and neutral public service entity. The regulating body, INRIC, has presented a project for reform of TAP to the 2012-government under Hamadi Jebili. Soon after his appointment in January 2012, the new managing director of TAP stressed that publicly financed institutions of information must reflect "the political, economical and social dynamics as well as the general concerns objectively and honestly". In order for the TAP to fulfill its role as "the locomotive of public information" he urged that juridical, regulatory and structural reforms be implemented in order to transform this institution into a public service institution. (La Presse, "De l'information gouvernementale à l'information publique", 10 February 2012).
As of March 2012, TAP is phasing in a subscription service, which will allow it more financial independence.
Adresse: Av. Slimen Ben Slimen, El Manar II, Tunis
Tel: (+216) 71 889 000
Fax: (+216)71.883.500
E-mail: dg.tap@email.ati.tn
Website: www.tap.info.tn
Print media
Following a decree amending the legislation of 1999 concerning public financing of political parties, the state subsidises their dailies and weeklies with 120 000 dinars annually and 30 000 dinars for other periodicals, thus exercising economic pressure on critical media. (http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Censure_en_Tunisie). This distribution of institutional and public advertising money benefits the old newspapers as does also the current monopoly on distribution of newspapers (IFEX Tunisia Monitoring Group, 2011). Owners of newly licensed newspapers and magazines protest that they do not receive state financial support and face distribution problems unlike the pre-revolution media. The criteria to obtain support state support were characterized as "unfair, not transparent, and conforming to the practices of the infamous l'Agence Tunisienne de communication extérieure (ATCE)". (TAP, October 2011)
Since 14 January 2011, the market for newspapers and magazines has been undergoing a structural transformation because newspapers of the now illegal political party have been closed, previously illegal party newspapers are now freely available, and new print media - especially in Arabic - are launched. Foreign media are also now for sale at a price far below their normal price in Europe which constitutes an additional challenge. In early January 2012, three French weeklies were confiscated on arrival in Tunisia to prevent the Tunisian people from religious offense.
Pre-January 14th 2011 print media
Achourouk www.alchourouk.com. Published by Dar El Anwar.
Al-Horria (ex-El Amal): closed after January 14 2011
Assabah www.assabah.com. Published by the publishing house Dar Assabah, now taken over by the state.
Assabah Al Ousbouï: weekly published by Dar El Anwar
Essahafa: Arabian-language edition of "La Presse".
Essarih: published by Dar El-Irada
La Presse de Tunisie: published by the group Societé nouvelle d'impression de presse et d'edition (SNIPE)
Le Renouveau (ex-L'Action) : newspaper of the PCD party, now closed
Le Temps: www.letemps.com.tn. Published by the publishing house Dar Assabah, now taken over by the state.
Le Quotidien: www.lequotidien-tn.com
Akhbar Achabab
Akhbar Al-Joumhouria: published by Akhbar Média
Al-Adhouaa: closed
Al-Akhbar : weekly published by Dar El Anwar.
Al-Fallah: weekly published by l'Union tunisienne de l'Agriculture et de la Pèche (UTAP)
Al-Mawkef: http://www.pdpinfo.org (newspaper of the Democratic Progressive Party)
Al-Mouatinoun: a newspaper formerly from the opposition
Attariq Al Jadid: http://attariq.org/ (monthly newspaper of the Ettajdid Party)
Echaâb: weekly, published by l'Union générale tunisienne du travail (UGGT)
El Anwar: weekly published by Dar El Anwar
El-Bayane: daily, published by l'Union tunisienne de l'Industrie, du Commerce et de l'Artisanat (UTICA)
El Ousbou Moussawar
El Wahda: closed
Al Moustakbel: closed
Koul El-Nas
Sabah Al-Khair: closed
Tunis Hebdo: www.tunis.hebdo.com.tn, published weekly
Al Ahd
L'Economiste Maghrébin : www.leconomiste.com.tn, weekly published by Société Promedia
L'Expert: weekly, published in Arab/French by Dar Al Khabir
L'Observateur / El Moulahedh : closed
Réalités / Haqaieq: www.realites.com.tn published weekly by Maghreb Média
Revue de la Radio et Télévision Tunisienne
Tunis Al-Khadhra: closed
Al-Badil: http://www.albadil.org, a communist media previously illegal
L'Audace: opposition newspaper published in France from 1992 until 2007 when it was suppressed. Available in print in Tunisia as a bi-monthly as of the beginning of March 2011. The newspaper is also published in an Arab version called El Jor'aa and is modelled on Le Canard Enchainé. Editor: Slim Bagga.
Post-January 14th 2011 print media
The prime minister's appointment of new directors and chief editors for public and private media on 7.1.2012 was heavily criticised as being an attempt by the government to control of the media. However, the appointments of the chief editors were recalled a few days later.
In the period January 14 to to November 2011, a total of 228 new publications were granted a license. 17 of these are dailies, 103 weeklies, 3 bi-weeklies, 69 monthlies. Most of these are in Arabic. They include:
Al Fajr (The Dawn): weekly newspaper for the party Ennadha (Islamist), first issue 9.4.2011. Characterised by www.tekiano.com on April 12, 2011: «Les plus rigoristes seront d'ailleurs surpris par la quasi-absence d'articles consacrés à la religion islamique dans l'organe officiel d'Ennahdha ». Editor: Rached Ghannouchi, leader of Ennadha.
Al Oula: a weekly, first issue appeared in the beginning of May 2011
Affaires strategiques : first issue of this magazine in Arab, French and English, appeared mid-July 2011. It contains documents and legislation concerning the period of transition in Tunisia as well as the goals and principles of the more than 90 political parties legalised after January 14th 2011. The editor-in-chief is the judge Mokthar Yahyaoui.
Attounissia : When this newspaper, launched in the beginning of 2012, published a semi-nude photo on February 15th, the publisher was imprisoned for a week on charges of violating public decency. Since he was charged according to the criminal laws rather than the press laws the organisations Reporters Without Borders and the SNJT(syndicat national des journalistes tunisiens) termed this a political rather than a legal case and considered him the first prisoner of opinion since the revolution.
Homepage: http://www.attounissia.com.tn/
Journal du Citoyen (JDC) : one of several publications developed by Tunisian journalists as part of their training organised by SNJT (syndicat national des journalistes tunisiens) and Institut Panos Paris (IPP).
Other publications include the daily Al Maghreb (The Maghreb) and the weeklies Al Hakika (The Truth), Arrissala (The Message), Al Yaoum (The Day), Al Massa (The Evening), Al Qattous (The Cat, a satiric newspaper), Al Waka'a (The Facts), Al Akhbar (The Information), Al Irada (The Determination), Asrar (Confidence), Al Hassad El Ousboui (The Weekly Account), Arabia, Arraya (The Standard), Sawt Echaab (The Voice of the People, newspaper of the communist party PCOT) et Al Karama (The Dignity). Two new publications closed before the elections in October 2011: El Mouharrer and 14 janvier.
Useful sources of information:
Article 19 Tunisia: Protecting Freedom of Expression and Freedom of Information in the New Constitution, March 2012
http://www.article19.org/data/files/medialibrary/3013/12-04-03-ANAL-tunisia.pdf
Article 19 Tunisia: Background paper on Internet regulation, April, 2012 http://www.article19.org/data/files/medialibrary/3014/12-04-03-ANAL-ICT-tunisia.pdf
Article 19: Tunisie: Nouveau décret relatif à l'accès aux documents administratifs : la fin de la culture du secret www.article19.org/resources.php/resource/2207/fr/tunisie:-nouveau-d%C3%A9cret-relatif-%C3%A0-l%E2%80%99acc%C3%A8s-aux-documents-administratifs-:-la-fin-de-la-culture-du-secret
IFEX-TMG Mission Report: The Scars of Oppression Run Deep: Assessing the Critical Requirements for Freedom of Expression in Tunisia's Democratic Transition April 2011 http://www.ifex.org/tunisia/2011/06/21/scarsofoppressionrundeepifextmg_eng.pdf
Internews (Joan Barata Mir) The New Tunisian Legislative Framework:A Focus on Press and Audiovisual Media February 2012 http://www.internews.org/sites/default/files/resources/Internews_TunisiaMediaLaw_2012-02.pdf
Institut Panos, Paris: La mission de service public audiovisuel dans la région Maghreb/Machek, April 2012