Algeria: Only 5 private TV channels operate legally out of a total of 22

A major photo exhibition about the itinerary of the President of the Republic, Abdelaziz Bouteflika, will be organized on the occasion of the celebration of 60th anniversary of the first of November Revolution Outbreak, Communication Minister Hamid Grine announced Monday in Algiers.

“A great photo exhibition on the course of the Mujahid, the man of peace, stability and progress, namely President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, will be organized on the occasion of the celebration of the 60th anniversary of the outbreak of the glorious National Revolution,” Grine said on the sidelines of the proceedings of a seminar against violence.

He said that the planned exhibition, which will comprise about 1600 photographs, will be held in the cities of Algiers, Oran, Constantine and Adrar, adding that the first of the like would be staged at the premises of the Palace of Culture in the district of Kouba in upper Algiers.

Mr Grine also underlined that up to now only five private TV channels had secured from the relevant authorities their proper licenses to operate in keeping with the country’s laws and regulations out of a total of 22 TV channels, adding that these legal lapses would be duly referred to the newly-installed audiovisual regulatory broadcasting authority headed by Mr Miloud Chorfi in order to straighten out this untoward situation at the earliest possible time

Furthermore, the communication Minister added having instructed the Provisional Commission in charge of the Professional ID card to deliver this card to any journalist, cameraman or photographer, who can demonstrate his or her professional status.

Concerning the Regulatory Authority of the Written Press, Mr Hamid Grine recalled that this “joint” body is made up of seven members named and seven others elected.

Journalists have to “be organized and have to present their professional cards so they can elect their representatives within the Regulatory Authority of the Written Press,” he said, while stressing that the setting up of this authoritative body “depends on the journalists themselves.”

“My message to the journalists is quite simple: “be organized and your professional conditions will be altered for the better”, the Minister emphasized.