Algeria opens to private radio and television - El Universal

EFE

| The Universal

3:00 Algiers | Sunday January 12, 2014

This opening occurs after 50 years of state monopoly, and 25 years after the Algerian authorities approve amendments to the Constitution on freedom of expression id=”contentNote”> After fifty years of state monopoly “single screen”, the Algerian authorities have decided to partially open the field of audiovisual information authorizing the creation of private television and radio.

law, not without controversy, was announced over two years ago and this week presented to Members of Parliament by the Minister of Communication, Abdelkader Mesahel .

Under the draft law, candidates create new TV channels or radio must be Algerian and must justify that social capital is “purely domestic”.

also another requirement which includes the new rule states that there must be professional journalists between the shareholders of the company.

addition, 60 percent of national programs should be disseminated and produced in Algeria, while 20 percent of this fee will be devoted to audiovisual works and movies.

This opening comes 25 years after the Algerian authorities give the first steps towards pluralism, with the reform of the Constitution in 1989.

Since then, the fundamental law of the country in North Africa enshrines the principle of freedom of expression and the ability to create private posts.

However, unlike what happens with the written press, radio and television will be supervised by a Regulatory Authority Media (ARA).

The mission of this agency will ensure the free exercise of audiovisual work, fairness in the public sector, as well as respect for the plurality of streams of thought and opinion in the various programs.

In addition, the ARA, which shall consist of nine members appointed by the head of state and the presidents of the two parliamentary chambers, have the ability to stop the spread of a chain and seize any material that, according to their criteria, harm public order, safety or morals.

Despite restrictions, the new law will end a paradoxical situation in the country, where they have beyond state television emerged in recent years several private channels have their headquarters in other Gulf countries, but whose emissions are produced and directed by Algerian national audience.

However, these channels like Al Nahar or Al Shuruk can only be seen through satellite dishes because they are housed in satellites Nilesat or Hotbird.

One point that has caused more discomfort for professionals and has caused great controversy in the print media is the draft of Article 7, which states that only can create thematic channels .

For many journalists and much of the opposition this restriction is a way to limit free speech and to keep under control the audioviusual field.

Before the criticism raised, the Algerian Communications Minister promised the deputies reviewing this point, saying that the controversy responds to “a misunderstanding due to a translation error (the article) from French into Arabic. “

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