Milestones

  • July 24, 1860 : publication of the first Tunisian and Arab periodical « Arraed Attounsi » (later « Arraed Arrasmi », Official Gazette).
  • March 12, 1936 : Creation of the French daily « La Presse »
  • 1936 : Launch of radio broadcasting in Tunisia
  • February 1, 1951 : Birth of the Arabic daily « Assabah »
  • May 1, 1959 : Creation of « Echaâb », the weekly of the Tunisian General Labor Union (UGTT) .
  • January 1, 1961 : Creation of the Tunisian Press Agency Tunis Afrique Presse (TAP )
  • 1961 : Launch of Sfax Radio, as the first regional radio station outside the capital.
  • May 31, 1966 : Inauguration of Tunisian Television broadcasts.
  • December 30, 1967 : Creation of the Press and Information Sciences Institute (IPSI), a higher education institution for the training of journalists and communicators.
  • March 22, 1972 : Creation of the Tunisian Association of Journalists (AJT).
  • June 1, 1975 : Foundation of the French-language daily Le Temps by Dar Assabah press publishing company.
  • December 31, 1982 : Creation of the African Center for the Training of Journalists and Communicators (CAPJC) to provide continued training to media and communication professionals.
  • August 2, 1988   :  Amendment of the Press Code with a view to reinforce the freedom of expression and opinion.
  • 1989: Tunisia is connected to the Internet. (The first in  Africa and in the Arab world).
  • January 30, 1989 : Creation of the Higher Communication Council, a consultative body in charge of promoting the information sector.
  • May 1991: Tunisian Journalists Association assumes the vice-presidency of the Windhoek international conference on the freedom of press and media pluralism in Africa, which gave birth to the World Press Freedom Day celebrated on May 3 rd of each year.
  • July 23, 1993 : The Chamber of Deputies adopts an organic law amending the Press Code. The procedures of "dépot légal" are simplified, and the protection of journalists is reinforced by a new legal provision putting the burden of proof in libel cases on the party which claims to have been defamed.
  • November 7, 1994 : Launch of Canal 21 , a public television channel geared towards young audiences.
  • November 7, 1995   :  Launch of Youth Radio, a national public station geared towards young audiences.
  • March 1996 : Creation of the Tunisian Internet Agency, as a public agency in charge of promoting Internet services in Tunisia.
  • March 1996 : Two Tunisian dailies launch the online versions of their newspapers.
  • December 30, 1996 : Tunis Radio starts its 24h-a-day, 7days-a- week live broadcasting online.
  • April 26, 1997 :  Creation of the Arab and African newspapers federation, with the main office in Tunisia.
  • March 20, 1998 : Tunisian national television ( Tunis 7 ) broadcasts live over the web.
  • November 7, 1998 : increase of state subsidy to the Opposition press, in order to help opposition parties cover part of the paper and printing costs.
  • March 29, 1999 : Promulgation of the law No. 99-27 dated March 29, 1999, completing the law No. 97-48 dated July 21, 1997 concerning the public financing of political parties. By virtue of the new law, an annual grant is provided to political parties as a contribution to cover the cost of the printing paper.
  • May 3, 2000 : On the occasion of the celebration of the World Press Freedom Day, the President of the Republic asks for the creation of a blue-ribbon commission including the presidents of the Tunisian Association of Journalists and the Tunisian Association of  Newspaper Directors, as well as a number of individual directors of private dailies and weeklies with the task of examining the concerns of the sector and presenting appropriate proposals.
  • November 7, 2000 : New measures are taken to promote media pluralism and freedom of press: Increasing by 50% the grants allocated to the Opposition press, and submitting to Parliament a Press Code amendment, providing for the abolition of prison sentences and the "defamation of the public order" charge.
  • Creation of a "one-stop window" for dépôt légal at the Ministry of Communication. ( Depot Legal was altogether abolished in 2005).
  • Discounted Internet connection rates for journalists announced.
  • May 3, 2001 : Publication of the organic law No. 2001-43 dated May 3, 2001, amending the Press Code. The amendments were aimed  at promotong public freedoms, by simplifying procedures and reducing criminal penalties or removing them from the Press Code.
  • May 7, 2002 : Enlargement of the prerogatives of the Higher Communication Council to play the role of "a national media observatory". Its task will include collecting national and international data related to the media sector as well as preparing reports on the evolution of the sector.
  • November 7, 2002 : Announcement of the decision providing for live broadcasting of parliamentary debates.
  • November 7, 2003 : Launch of the first private radio station « Mosaïque FM », from Tunis
  • February 13, 2005 : Launch of the first private satellite channel «  Hannibal TV  », in Tunis
  • May 27, 2005 : Abolition of the administrative measure of the legal submission of copies of press material ( dépôt legal) .
  • July 25, 2005 : Launch of the second private radio station, «  Radio El Jawhara  », broadcasting from Sousse.

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