Media chaos in Tunisia: Impediment to the democratic transition

(MENAFN- The Peninsula)

Dr Noureddine Miladi

The media market has been significantly transformed post the revolution of 14 January 2011 which ousted the regime of Zein El-Abideen Ben Ali in Tunisia. From a handful of media outlets mainly controlled by the former regime there has been an explosion of radio stations TV channels and online news organizations in addition to a plethora of newspapers and magazines. This new environment has significantly widened the scope for free speech to a level unprecedented before.

The global freedom index Freedom House for instance rated Tunisia very high in terms of freedom of expression during the year 2014. On a scale from 1 (being the best) to 7 (being the worst) in the world Tunisia rated 2 during that year. The report also reads that ‘The transitional government proclaimed freedom of information and expression to be a foundational principle for the country and that vast new press freedoms have emerged from the revolution’.

Moreover as a guarantee for this achievement the new constitution passed by the Constituent Assembly in 2014 established freedom of expression and freedom of religion to every citizen. Article 31 reads that ‘Freedom of opinion thought expression media and publication shall be guaranteed. These freedoms shall not be subject to prior censorship’. Also Article 32 confirms that ‘The state shall guarantee the right to information and the right to access information. The state seeks to guarantee the right to access to information networks’.

As a result TV and radio stations have been hosting a growing number of discussion shows that address every aspect of the Tunisian society. Talk shows about political reform corruption education role of the police civil society human rights culture and sports have become the digest of scores of channels. This has provided a critical space for civil society organisations to express their views regarding the shaping of the new democracy in the country. This new scope of media freedom is exceptional given the fact that representatives of civil society organizations had never had the opportunity to freely express their views on public service media during the Ben Ali era especially when it comes to issues relating to human rights workers’ rights and political participation.

As a result the benchmark of freedom of expression has reached levels unseen before. Noteworthy is that journalists and artists known for their collaboration with the Ben Ali regime have been spearheading media freedom advocacy. The picture might seem exciting but what seems problematic is the unlimited ceiling of freedom of speech that such proponents have been calling for. Freedom that does not account for social responsibility limits to sacred beliefs tradition or culture.

During the last two years there has been growing xenophobia on a various independent channels. Scores of discussion shows lack adherence to the professional editorial guidelines.

The well-known media ethos of objectivity and impartiality currently seems a far-fetched idea in Tunisia considering the numerous controversies that have been arising every day.

Tunisians during the last five years have been looking forward to a type of broadcasting that represents their interests and concerns. However what they have seen instead are media outlets that are run by xenophobic people. A few chauvinistic secularists are waging fake battles on TV screens which do not have relevance to the Tunisia public.

Secondary issues in society have been put high on the agenda of public concern. A few figures who call themselves artists pose as experts and give fatwas (religious ruling/injunctions) on various matters. Modernity according to some seems only to be related to binge drinking homosexuality and drugs.

These fake media wars are actually a distraction from the important issues that Tunisians have to address during this period of democratic transition.

In a nutshell the post revolution period in Tunisia has witnessed an influx of media outlets driven by the new spirit of freedom of expression and financial support is being pumped in from within and outside the country.

However this unprecedented media explosion though welcomed in the beginning also stood as an increasing challenge given the delay in accomplishing full-bodied media laws and the inability of the regulatory body (HAICA) to control the media scene in the country.

Moreover what seems to have added to these challenges was external funding to few influential media organizations which were privileged from among other private media outlets.

This dramatic transformation is proving day-by-day an impediment to the smooth transformation of the country into a functioning democracy.

Consequently will the Tunisian government and its legislative body (the Parliament) realise that a democratic transition and a prosperous civil society do not go hand in hand with media chaos?

Dr Noureddine Miladi is Associate Professor of Media and Communication. He can be reached via e-mail: