The crisis of confidence deepens between the Tunisian media and the government.
Dozens of Tunisian journalists last week rallied at the Kasbah to denounce the government's involvement in editorial management decisions.
Journalists from dailies Essabah and Le Temps accused Ennahda of attempts to control the media sector. Employees of the Dar Essabah media group gathered on August 22nd to object to the appointment of new director Lotfi Touati, former editor in chief of a rival publication they consider too close to the Islamist party.
Prime Minister Hamadi Jebali two weeks ago also named Imen Bahroun, accused of affiliation with Ennahda, as head of the national television channel.
The transitional government faced a torrent of criticism for its decisions.
The appointees do not meet the requirements of sufficient competence and experience to manage media institutions, said National Syndicate of Tunisian Journalists (SNJT) chief Nejiba Hamrouni. She said that the government did not consult the media sector before making the appointments.
SNJT member Zied El-Héni contended that the move poses a threat to freedom of the press and the independence of media institutions.
The Tunisian League for the Defence of Human Rights (LTDH) on August 22nd condemned "continued unilateral appointments in print and broadcast media by officials, without consulting the professional and syndicate organisations".
It is an attempt aimed at making the media compliant in order to subjugate and control it, the LTDH alleged.
The leftist Ettakatol party, part of the tripartite government coalition, called on its Ennahda partners "to consult the professional and syndicate organisations before each appointment or issuance of any decision regarding the media sector".
In its August 17th statement, the SNJT insisted on creating a regulatory body for audio-visual media and ensuring the independence of media institutions. This body alone should appoint heads of media institutions according to objective and transparent standards, the organisation said.
The Islamist-dominated government, however, refuted the accusations, saying that the law authorises it to make appointments without consultation.
It remains the exclusive prerogative of the prime minister, according to Ridha Kazdaghli, adviser to the prime minister in charge of information and communication. He noted that these appointments would not affect the editorial line of the media institutions, but rather would be limited to administrative and financial functions of each institution.
Lotfi Zitoun, a political adviser to prime minister, accused the media of bias and serving the interests of the opposition parties.
"The defenders of Tunisian media now are defending one media scene, in opposing the elected government and its actions," he said. "After having evaluated the achievements of the ousted regime, they have become attackers of the current government."
© Magharebia.com 2012
