The mass media in Tunisia is an economic sector. Under the authoritarian regimes of Habib Bourguiba, and then Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, it saw periods of liberalization and then challenges, notably due to Tunisian censorship. The 2010-2011 Tunisian protests and the subsequent change in government may bring significant change in this domain.
In 2007, the Tunisian government's Website counted 245 daily newspapers and reviews, grown from 91 in 1987. [1] These are in large part (90%) owned by private groups and individuals, with much of the press dominated by discussion of government matters. On April 29, 2011, the Minister of the Interior announced authorization was granted to 51 new newspapers and reviews published since the beginning of the revolution. [2]
The first daily newspaper printed in Tunisia appeared on July 22, 1860 under the name Arra'id Attunisi, calling itself "The official journal of the Tunisian Republic", founded by the ruler of that period, Sadok Bey. [3] The anti-Arab attacks by the Colonial Party and its Editor in Chief, Victor de Carnières, pushed Tunisian intellectuals to launch Le Tunisien in 1907, the first newspaper in the French language in Tunisia, with the aim of influencing the authorities of the Protectorate of Tunisia and French public opinion.
Starting from that date, the number of French-language titles grew to reach 41 in 1956, while the Arab-language press counted 288 titles by that year. [4] At the beginning of 1991, there were six French language dailies, and nine in Arabic; there were 140 weeklies — 45 in French — and 160 monthly publications. [5]
Tunisian political parties had the right to publish their own newspapers but those of the political opposition were only published intermittently. [6] Faced with this situation, in 1991 the government issued a grant of 30,000 Tunisian dinars to each of the parties. Other assistance was also provided to cover other expenses (paper, postage, and so on), but appeared to be granted under unclear criteria. [6] In a decree amending the law in 1999 relating to public financing of political parties, the government allocated a grant of 120,000 dinars to political party publications and 30,000 dinars to other periodicals. These mechanisms constituted a pressure tactic that the government could use on newspapers that expressed too much criticism of the regime.
The Code de la presse de 1975 was revised on August 2, 1988, on July 23, 1993, and on May 3, 2001. It notably banned publications that disturbed public order or "defamed" the authorities, even if the allegations had been proven. [7] The crime of "defaming public order" was removed from legislation, as was the administrative formality of preemptive filing of newspapers with the Minister of the Interior before publication, on May 27, 2005.
Freedom of the press is guaranteed by the Constitution of Tunisia, although in practice, it has been usual for publications to follow the government line without a critical perspective, and to report the activities of the president, the government and the ruling party, based on dispatches issued by the government Tunis Afrique Presse. This agency has in the past examined some of the subjects "not to the liking of the government." A report by the UN Human Rights Committee in 2000 showed that despite the 188 titles in the Tunisian press, it was marked by its "uniformity of tone". This was recognized by the President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali and Prime Minister Hamed Karoui [8] without introducing significant change. According to Lise Garon, the press followed "an imperious demand to show a smooth image to the outside world", resulting in a kind of "internal unanimity". [9]
All newspapers and magazines, comprising opposition publications, can benefit from advertising revenue, whether public or private enterprise. However, La Presse de Tunisie , owned by a public company (Société nouvelle d'impression, de presse et d'édition), has held a virtual monopoly, including with respect to Arab-language publications. [10]
Title | Founded | Appears | Language | Ownership |
---|---|---|---|---|
Tunisialive | April, 2011 | online | English | Global Productions |
Tunisia Daily | May, 2001 | online | French / English | Tn Daily Press Editing (since 2001) |
Tunis Afrique Presse | January 1, 1961 | online | Arabic / French / English | |
African Manager | Unknown | online | Arabic / French / English | |
Akhbar Achabab | October 4, 1997 | Weekly | Arabic | Dar Al Irada |
Akhbar Al Joumhouria | October 13, 1990 | Weekly | Arabic | Akhbar Média |
Al Adhouaa | 1978 | Weekly | Arabic | Maison Al Adhouaa d'édition, de presse et de distribution |
Al Akhbar | April 1984 | Weekly | Arabic | Dar Tunis Hebdo |
Al Ahd | November 3, 1993 | Weekly | Arabic | Nabil El Bradei |
Al Anwar (Tunisian newspaper) | August 16, 1981 | Weekly | Arabic | Dar Anwar |
Al Chourouk | 1987 | Daily | Arabic | Dar Anwar |
Al Mouharrer | August 2, 2011 | Daily | Arabic | Abderrahman Bahloul |
Al Moussawar | October 4, 1985 | Weekly | Arabic | Dar Anwar |
Al Ousboui | Weekly | Arabic | Dar Assabah | |
Assabah | February 1, 1951 | Daily | Arabic | Dar Assabah |
Essahafa | January 1989 | Daily | Arabic | Société nouvelle d'impression, de presse et d'édition |
Essarih | January 3, 1995 | Daily | Arabic | Dar Al Irada |
L'Expert | April 1996 | Daily | French and Arabic | Dar Al Khabir |
La Presse de Tunisie | March 12, 1936 | Daily | French | Société nouvelle d'impression, de presse et d'édition |
Le Quotidien | April 6, 2001 | Daily | French | Dar Anwar |
Le Temps | June 1, 1975 | Daily | French | Dar Assabah |
Sabah Al Khair | April 28, 1987 | Weekly | Arabic | Dar Assabah |
Tunis Hebdo | 24 September 1973 | Weekly | French | Dar Tunis Hebdo |
Tunivisions | 1997 | Monthly | French | Media Visions Editing (since 2006) |
El Distro Network | 2017 | Monthly | English | Barcids LTD |
AlKabar Plus | 2016 | Daily | Arabic | Nedra Ferchichi |
TunisianYouth.com | 2020 | Daily | Arabic | Tunisian Youth Media Platform |
MABAPOST | December, 2019 | Biweekly | Arabic / French / English | Mohamed Ali Ben Ammar |
Title | Founded | Appears | Language | Ownership |
---|---|---|---|---|
Réalités / Haqaieq | January 1979 | Weekly | French and Arabic | Maghreb Média |
Title | Founded | Appears | Language | Ownership |
---|---|---|---|---|
L'Économiste maghrébin | May 2, 1990 | Bimonthly | French | |
Le Manager | 1996 | Monthly | French and Arabic | |
La Tunisie économique | 1985 | Monthly | French | |
Title | Founded | Appears | Language | Details |
---|---|---|---|---|
Al Mawkif | May 12, 1984 | Weekly | Arabic | Published by Parti démocrate progressiste |
Al Wahda | October 10, 1981 | Weekly | Arabic | Published by Parti de l'unité populaire |
Attariq Al Jadid | October 7, 1981 | Weekly | Arabic | Published by mouvement Ettajdid |
Mouwatinoun | January 15, 2007 | Weekly | Arabic | Published by Forum démocratique pour le travail et les libertés |
Al Fallah | May 14, 1993 | Weekly | Arabic | Published by Union tunisienne de l'agriculture et de la pêche |
Al Bayane | November 14, 1977 | Weekly | Arabic | Published by Union tunisienne de l'industrie, du commerce et de l'artisanat |
Echaâb | May 1, 1959 | Weekly | Arabic | Published by Union Générale Tunisienne du Travail |
Tunis Al Khadhra | March 20, 1976 | Bimonthly | Arabic | Published by Union tunisienne de l'agriculture et de la pêche |
The institutional Tunisian press is frequently accused by large international newspapers of plagiarism. There have been incidents where print publications have been found to have translated and published material taken from blogs and other online authors, without seeking permission. [11] [12] [13]
Audiovisual media has long been under the domination of the Établissement de la Radiodiffusion-Télévision Tunisienne (ERTT) and its predecessor, Radiodiffusion-télévision tunisienne, founded in 1957. The President of Tunisia, Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali announced on November 7, 2006 the splitting up of the organization on August 31, 2007 into separate entities that would oversee Tunisian television broadcasting and Tunisian radio broadcasting.
The Établissement de la Télévision Tunisienne manages the public television stations (Watanya 1 and Watanya 2 which replaced the defunct RTT 2). Since government policy changes in 2003, the television industry has been opened up to the private sector. This resulted in two new channels on Tunisian television: Hannibal TV, Nessma and Nessma EU, and after the Tunisian Revolution several new private channels founded as El Hiwar Et Tounsi, Tunisna TV, TWT, TT1, Zitouna TV, Al-Insen TV, Aljanoubia, Tunisia News Network, Tsport, Al-Qalam TV, and Al-Mutawasit TV.
Television in Tunisia reaches 94% of households. The dominant platform in the market is free satellite, though terrestrial platform reaches around 15% of the households.
The Établissement de la Radio Tunisienne manages four national public radio stations: (Radio Tunis, Radio Tunisie Culture, Radio Jeunes and RTCI). It also manages five regional stations: Sfax, Monastir, Gafsa, Tataouine and Le Kef.
The majority of radio broadcasts are in Arabic, but some are in French. In 2003, a process of opening the radio industry to the private sector began. Since then, private radio stations have started broadcasting in Tunisia: Mosaïque FM, Jawhara FM, Zitouna FM, Shems FM and Express FM and after the Tunisian Revolution several new private stations founded as Mines FM (Sawt Elmanajem), Kalima FM and Oasis FM.
Tunisian culture is a product of more than three thousand years of history and an important multi-ethnic influx. Ancient Tunisia was a major civilization crossing through history; different cultures, civilizations and multiple successive dynasties contributed to the culture of the country over centuries with varying degrees of influence. Among these cultures were the Carthaginian – their native civilization, Roman, Vandal, Jewish, Christian, Arab, Islamic, Turkish, and French, in addition to native Amazigh. This unique mixture of cultures made Tunisia, with its strategic geographical location in the Mediterranean, the core of several civilizations of Mare Nostrum.
The Tunisian Football Federation is the governing body of football in Tunisia. It established on 29 March 1957. It became a member in the FIFA in 1960, and in the same year it also became a member of CAF association. The federation also joined the UAFA in 1976 and the UNAF in 2005.
The Bourse des Valeurs Mobilières de Tunis (BVMT) or Bourse de Tunis is a stock exchange based in Tunis, Tunisia. It was founded in 1969, and currently lists around 50 stocks.
Ahmad I, born 2 December 1805 in Tunis died 30 May 1855 at La Goulette, was the tenth Husainid Bey of Tunis, ruling from 1837 until his death. He was responsible for the abolition of slavery in Tunisia in 1846.
The Établissement de la Radiodiffusion-Télévision Tunisienne (ERTT) – French for Tunisian Radio and Television Establishment – was Tunisia's state broadcasting organization from 1990 until 2007 before it was split into the Tunisian Television Establishment and the Tunisian Radio Establishment. It operated two national television channels and several radio stations.
Abdelaziz Gorgi was a Tunisian artist. He was one of the founders of the Tunis School of painting and one of the most prominent members of Tunisia's cultural scene.
Tarak Mekki was a Tunisian businessman and political figure. He declared himself as an opponent to the president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and a candidate to his succession. Mekki was one of the few political opponents calling for an immediate end to the Ben Ali regime, and his prosecution for corruption and torture.
El Watania 1, also known as Télévision Tunisienne 1, is the first Tunisian public national television channel. It is owned and operated by Télévision Tunisienne. Formerly named RTT (1966–1983), RTT 1 (1983–1992), TV7 (1992–1997), Tunis 7 (1997–2008), Tunisie 7 (2008–2011), it has been known as El Watania 1 since 2011.
El Watania 2, also known as Télévision Tunisienne 2, is the second Tunisian public national television channel. It is owned and operated by Télévision Tunisienne. Formerly known as Canal 21 (1994–2007), then as Tunisie 21 (2007–2011), and as El Watania 2 since 2011. The television channel started broadcasting on November 7, 1994.
La Presse, founded in 1934, is a large-circulation French-language daily newspaper published in Tunis, Tunisia.
Ridha Saidi is a Tunisian politician. He serves as the Minister of Economy under Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali.
Mezri Haddad is a Tunisian journalist, writer, philosopher and diplomat. Haddad was a doctor of moral and political philosophy at the Paris-Sorbonne University, and the first Muslim candidate to be qualified by the National Council of French universities as a lecturer in Catholic theology. He is the author of several essays that focus on politics and religion.
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Mohamed Guediche was a Tunisian cardiologist, who also held a senior military rank. His national significance in Tunisia was based in part on his position as the personal physician to President Ben Ali, and previous to that as a physician for Ben Ali's predecessor, Habib Bourguiba.
Sami Fehri is a Tunisian entrepreneur, producer and director. He is also the founder of the private Tunisian channel “Ettounsiya TV” and the general director of the private production Company Cactus Production.
Nabil Karoui is a Tunisian politician and businessman. One of the key figures in the Tunisian media landscape, Karoui is CEO of Karoui & Karoui World and owner of the Tunisian television station Nessma. Karoui ran as a candidate in the 2019 Tunisian presidential election, finishing in second place.
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The Établissement de la Radio Tunisienne is Tunisia's state-owned public radio broadcaster. It was formed in August 2007, when the former national state broadcaster ERTT was split into separate radio and television companies. Tunisian Radio operates ten stations, four nationwide and six regionally. It is an active member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and the Arab States Broadcasting Union (ABSU).
The Établissement de la Télévision Tunisienne is Tunisia's national state-owned public service television broadcaster. The company was established by the country's president Zine El Abidine Ben Ali in August 2007, by dividing the country's former state broadcaster ERTT into separate companies for radio and television. Tunisian television operates two nationwide television channels and is an active member of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and the Arab States Broadcasting Union (ABSU).
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