Tunisia media guide

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A Tunisian man reads a newspaper on Habib Bourguiba Avenue in the capital Tunis, December 2021Image source, Getty Images
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Tunisia ranks highly among Arab countries for media freedom

Since President Saied's seizure of extraordinary powers in 2021, journalists have faced increasing pressure and intimidation from government officials, says US-based NGO Freedom House.

Arrests and prosecutions of journalists and government opponents have continued, and a 2022 law ostensibly intended to combat fake news has been used to stifle dissent and create a climate of fear

Although television is still a significant part of the media sector, there is a trend away from watching broadcast TV, especially among younger audiences.

The radio sector is varied and dynamic, but print media have lost ground. Digital and alternative media platforms have witnessed significant growth.

The printed press sector is in rapid decline. In 2022, there were 21 newspapers in Tunisia, compared with nearly 250 at the outbreak of the 2011 revolution.

The online landscape is open, but users tend to self-censor when discussing sensitive topics.

The investigative website Nawaat is the most popular online news outlet in terms of social media following with over 1.5m followers across platform, followed by Tunisie Numerique and Babnet.

There were 9.9 million internet users by February 2024, comprising 79% of the population (Datareportal.com).

Press

Television

Radio

News agency/internet

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