Mass media in Algeria

[1] The Algerian newspapers with the largest circulations are Echourouk (1,800,000), Ennahar (1,600,000), El Khabar (1,000,000) and Quotidien d'Oran (700,000); all four are employee-owned.

The print press also publishes online, on a daily basis, except for on Fridays (public observation of the Islamic holy day).

[4] Writing in Arabic, English and French, Algerian bloggers cover social, cultural and political topics.

Algerian dailies mark the anniversary of the introduction of the defamation laws by suspending publication in a protest known as a "day without newspapers".

[citation needed] There is no direct censorship, but laws set out prison terms and fines for insulting or defaming the president, MPs, judges and the army.

Media rights bodies have accused the government of using the law to control the private press, in addition to using indirect pressure such as suspending building permits for newspaper's offices, discouraging relationships with private advertisers, and prompting tax or creditor investigations.

[12] Algerian dailies mark the anniversary of the introduction of the defamation laws by suspending publication in a protest known as a "day without newspapers".

Entreprise nationale de télévision (ENTV) is the national entity that oversees public television broadcasting.

The channel will show about ten major thematic programmes dealing with politics, business, social, sport, entertainment and music.