National Media Committed to Impartial, Responsible Reporting
Minister of Communication Mohamed Bouslimani emphasized the national media's commitment to supporting state efforts, particularly concerning upcoming local elections. Speaking in Algiers, Mr. Bouslimani highlighted the media's dedication to ensuring professional, impartial, and responsible coverage. This commitment was articulated during his oversight of a study day focused on "Media and Local Elections 2026: Towards Professional, Responsible, and Transparent Coverage."
The Minister underlined that national media has consistently demonstrated its professional commitment and national spirit by supporting state initiatives and effectively covering various national events, including elections. He noted that the professional media's accompaniment throughout the electoral process extends beyond mere professional practice, becoming a national duty. This role is crucial in light of systematic electronic warfare designed to sow discord and mislead youth. The media is also aware of its responsibility to raise citizen awareness, foster trust between citizens and administration, highlight achievements, and bolster Algeria's regional and international standing.
The theme of the study day aligns with key elements of President Abdelmadjid Tebboune's program, which is centered on guaranteeing citizens' right to free expression through democratic choices for their representatives in national and local elected institutions, while also promoting the role of professional, impartial, and responsible media. Mr. Bouslimani mentioned the reforms within the media sector, enacted in line with the significant national transformations since 2019, keeping pace with technological and geopolitical developments that influence democratic practices and states' sovereign decisions. He added that the state has established the election process as a democratic mechanism to achieve this direction, through ethical political life, the exclusion of corrupt money from elections, and the enhancement of equality by broadening the participation of Algerian women and youth.
Furthermore, constitutional guarantees reinforce journalists' freedom and protect them from pressure while performing their duties within the law, thereby affirming the media's central role in promoting democracy through various mechanisms and practices, such as elections. The communication sector is actively working to strengthen its legal framework and implement specialized training for journalists. Regular and focused media accompaniment of these efforts is deemed essential to counter misleading information, reinforce the internal front, and spotlight strategic projects, including the Algeria-Tamanrasset railway, which serves as a vital logistical axis connecting Algeria to its African depth and solidifying its economic sovereignty. The upcoming local elections, notably the first under the new territorial division, represent another opportunity for the national media to demonstrate its capacity for professional, impartial, and responsible coverage.
