Mass media in Niger is a diverse collection of public and private entities, both print and broadcast, centered in the capital of Niamey, but with vibrant regional centers. The media has historically been state funded, and focused on radio broadcast media, as the nation's population is spread over great distances. Niamey boasts scores of newspapers and magazines, many of which are fiercely critical of the government. These papers though have very small circulations, and almost none outside the cities.

The majority of Niger's population live in rural communities, are relatively poor and are illiterate. Consequently, radio, in contrast to print or more expensive television is the primary source of information and entertainment amongst most Nigeriens. More than a dozen public and private radio networks broadcast across the more populated south of the nation. Many are highly critical of the government. Despite this, there is a strong government regulatory regime, and this combined with strong libel laws, have seen many journalists arrested and private media shut down during the 2000s.

History

While the first newspapers were founded in the 1950s, until the end of military rule in the early 1990s, print and broadcast media were limited to government controlled outlets. With the coming of democracy in the 1991-1993 period, many print news sources were founded, mostly in the capital of Niamey and most weekly publications. From 1994, private radio stations began to appear. As illiteracy rates are high and distances around the nation are great, radio has become the primary medium for entertainment and information. State, private, and international satellite television has also begun to appear in the 2000s. Free media was suspended following the 1996 and 1999 coups, with the short Fourth Republic of 1997-1999 imposing severe restrictions on media.[1] Since the re-installation of democracy in 1999, Nigerien media has been judged independent of central government control by international observers, although since the advent of the Tuareg rebellion of 2007-2009 Niger has seen harsh local and national restrictions on journalists.

Print

The government publishes a French-language daily newspaper, Le Sahel, and its weekend edition.[2] There are approximately 12 private French-language weekly or monthly newspapers, some of which are affiliated loosely with political parties, and most of which appeared with the formation of the Third Republic in the early 1990s. Most prominent are the daily La Nouvelle Tribune du Peuple, the weeklies Le Républicain, La Canard Dechaine, Infos de l'Air, the fortnightly l'Evenement, L'Observateur and Haské.[3][4]

Radio

Radio is the most important medium, as television sets are beyond the buying power of many of the rural poor, and illiteracy prevents print media from becoming a mass medium.[5] In addition to the national and regional radio services of the state broadcaster ORTN, there are several privately owned radio networks which total more than 100 stations. Anfani FM, Radio Sarounia, Radio et Musique, Radio Bouclier, Radio Malibero, Radio Tambara, and Radio Tenere are urban-based commercial format FM networks in the major towns. These private radio stations generally are less critical of government actions than are the private newspapers. These stations broadcast programs in French as well as local or regional languages, including Djerma and Hausa. Radio Anfani and Radio et Musique presented news coverage that has included a variety of points of view. Radio Sarounia has presented regular news coverage. Its news director, Moussa Kaka, was arrested by the government in 2007 for interviewing Tuareg rebel leaders and held awaiting trial for more than a year. The other private domestic radio stations are smaller and offer little domestic news programming.[6]

There is also a network of over 80 community radio stations spread across all seven regions of the country, governed by the Comité de Pilotage de Radios de Proximité (CPRP), a civil society organisation. The independent sector radio networks are collectively estimated by CPRP officials to cover some 7.6 million people, or about 73% of the population (2005).

Aside from Nigerien radio stations, the BBC Hausa service is listened to on FM repeaters across wide parts of the country, particularly in the south, close to the border with Nigeria. Radio France Internationale also rebroadcasts in French through some of the commercial stations, via satellite.

Tenere also runs a national independent television station of the same name.[6]

Television

Regulation

Regulation of Media in Niger is carried out by the High Council for Communication, a body appointed by the government and overseen by the Ministry of Communication. The CSC issues all licenses and press credentials, and forms the Council of the Press, a journalism accrediting body. The CSC is the only body legally allowed to close media outlets, establish bans on reporting, and license television, radio, and newspaper reporting.[8] It also oversees and disburses government funding for private media, through its "press assistance fund".[9] It distributes press passes and accredits journalists.[10] Its functioning under the Third Republic was questioned, due to a perceived lack of resources. Journalists observing the CSC contrasted the vast, if vague scope of the CSC's powers with its lack of personnel and funding, rendering it "unable to exercise its numerous powers", and charging that this served the interest of political control of the media.[11]

Under the Fifth Republic it further is responsible for creating a professional committee of journalism in Niger, which in turn creates the "Charter of Professional Journalists of Niger" (Charte des Journalistes professionnels du Niger). This is the code which the CSC then uses to oversee and sanction the professional behaviour of journalists.[10]

Freedom of the press

Despite instances of arrest and detention of journalists, West African observers generally judge Nigerien press to be independent and lively in attacking the government.[12] Nigerien journalists say they are often pressured by local authorities. The north, under a state of emergency, has become a no-go zone for foreign press, and the independent Radio Agadez in the north has been closed by the government.

Since mid-2007, there have been a number of arrests of foreign and local journalists. Two local journalists were imprisoned in 2007 under charge of aiding the Tuareg insurgency in the north, and several radio stations have been closed. The journalist Moussa Kaka was held over a year on charges stemming from a radio interview of Rebel leaders, before being provisionally released. Foreign journalist circulated and reported freely prior to mid-2007, but since have been restricted from reporting on or traveling to the north of the country (Agadez Region). Since this time radio re-broadcasts of foreign news services have been restricted, having previously been a staple of Nigerien news coverage.[6]

Legally, there are two instruments used regulate press behavior. Libel laws may be used against writers and publishers of material, either by the injured party or the government. The CSC is the only government agency with the legal power to close radio stations, and it may do so only after receiving a complaint. Despite this, as recently as 2005 the government have closed radio outlets without recourse to the CSC. In this case, a private radio station publicised protests to tax increases, and although initial police closures were overturned, the CSC ordered the station to refrain from broadcasting political news, sports coverage, or commercials.[13] Since the beginning of the 2007 Tuareg insurgency in the north, the CSC has closed a number of outlets, and pronounced blanket bans on coverage of certain topics in the media, and of reporting from the northern part of the nation.[14] Specific stations have been suspended for the content of their coverage, the topics discussed in on air debates, or simply for reporting on the conflict in the north.[15] Amnesty International has complained that these measures are in violation of Niger's commitments to International Law.[16] In 2009, Reporters Without Borders and the International Federation of Journalists accused the government on Niger of carrying out harassment of Nigerien journalists, following three high-profile arrests and libel cases brought against newspapers by members of the government[17] and the arrest of two officials of Dounia TV for comments made by others on their station.[18] Dounia, the only non-governmental Nigerien Television News station, has been accused of giving air time to supporters Hama Amadou, an imprisoned ruling party rival of the President of Niger. RSF claimed that "The Dounia group is the victim of repeated harassment by the judicial authorities".[19]

Religious broadcasting

The Islamic Association of Niger, which acts as an official advisory committee to the government on religious matters, broadcasts biweekly on the government controlled television station. On government-controlled media, Christian programs generally are broadcast only on special occasions, such as Christmas and Easter, although the independent media regularly broadcast such programs.[6] Regulations from 2007 of the High Council for Communication, the body which licenses all broadcasts, includes a ban on all "purely political or confessional broadcasters".[20]

State media

The government-owned Radio Voix du Sahel radio transmits 14 hours per day, providing news and other programs in French and several local languages. Tele-Sahel, ORTN's television station transmits to all urban centers.

The state ORTN network depends financially on the government, partly through an addition to electricity bills and partly through direct subsidy. The High Council for Communication also maintains a fund which supports private broadcasters, although its payments are criticised as political and irregular.[6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ SEMINAIRE-ATELIER DE FORMATION ET DE SENSIBILISATION "Mission de service public dans les entreprises de presse d’Etat et privée". Historical introduction to Press Laws, in conference proceedings, Organised by FIJ/SAINFO/LO-TCO CCOG. NIAMEY (June 2002).
  2. ↑ Idrissa 2012.
  3. ↑ Media in Niger: the African Development Information Database.
  4. ↑ Medias Status Report:Niger Archived 2009-03-04 at the Wayback Machine. Summary document written for the African Media Partners Network. Guy-Michel Boluvi, Les Echos du Sahel Niamey. (January 2001).
  5. ↑ Jolijn Geels. Niger. Bradt UK/ Globe Pequot Press USA (2006) ISBN 978-1-84162-152-4
  6. 1 2 3 4 5 U.S. Department of State. Report on Human Rights Practices - Niger. 1993-1995 Archived 2009-06-16 at the Wayback Machine to 2006.
  7. 1 2 "Niger Profile: Media". BBC News. Retrieved 10 July 2017.
  8. ↑ Constitution de la République du Niger. Adoptée le 18 juillet 1999 et promulguée par le décret n°99-320/PCRN du 9 août 1999. Titre VIII : Du Conseil Supérieur de la Communication, Articles 124-126
  9. ↑ L’empouvoirement citoyen pour la bonne gouvernance à travers la radio communautaire en Afrique de l’Ouest Archived 2010-07-14 at the Wayback Machine. Chapitre 18. Notes sur le cadre législatif et reglementaire au Niger. Oumar Seck Ndiaye. From L’empouvoirement citoyen pour la bonne gouvernance à travers la radio communautaire en Afrique de l’Ouest: Cadres législatifs et réglementaires. The World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters -- Africa (AMARC-Afrique). No date. Retrieved 2009-02-23
  10. 1 2 Réseau des Journalistes pour les Droits de l’Homme (RJDH-NIGER) Archived 2009-06-12 at the Wayback Machine. Retrieved 2009-02-23.
  11. ↑ Un géant pris au piège de son gigantisme Archived 2011-07-21 at archive.today, Mame Less Camara. English Translation. Interadio Vol 8 No 1. The World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters -- Africa (AMARC-Afrique) Retrieved 2009-02-23
  12. ↑ Niger: Press harassment hinders development, watchdogs warn, 15 January 2008 (IRIN)
  13. ↑ Niger: Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2005. Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, U.S. Department of State. March 8, 2006
  14. ↑ Niger: Country Reports on Human Rights Practices 2007. Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, U.S. Department of State. March 11, 2008
  15. ↑ Attacks on the press: Niger 2006. Committee to Protect Journalists (2007). Retrieved 2009-02-23
  16. ↑ Niger: Emergency legislation infringes non-derogable human rights Archived 2009-02-11 at the Wayback Machine. AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL Public Statement. AI Index: AFR 43/001/2007 (Public Document) Press Service Number: 181/07. 21 September 2007
  17. ↑ Editor of the weekly L’Action sentenced to three months in prison. RSF 6 February 2009.
  18. ↑ IFJ Calls on the Government of Niger to End the Arrests and Intimidation of Journalists Archived 2011-07-26 at the Wayback Machine. IFJ. 7 April 2009.
  19. ↑ In latest judicial harassment of broadcasting group, director-general charged with “false news”. RSF. 3 April 2009.
  20. ↑ Oumar Seck Ndiaye. Retrieved 2009-02-23. From délibération n°02-2007/P/C/CSC du 27 août 2007 of the CSC. In article 26 the language reads "les radios à caractère confessionnel et politique sont formellement interdites"

Bibliography

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