Mass media in Tunisia

Under the authoritarian regimes of Habib Bourguiba, and then Zine El Abidine Ben Ali, it saw periods of liberalization and then challenges, notably due to Tunisian censorship.

[1] These are in large part (90%) owned by private groups and individuals, with much of the press dominated by discussion of government matters.

[2] The first daily newspaper printed in Tunisia appeared on July 22, 1860 under the name Arra'id Attunisi, calling itself "The official journal of the Tunisian Republic", founded by the ruler of that period, Sadok Bey.

[3] The anti-Arab attacks by the Colonial Party and its Editor in Chief, Victor de Carnières, pushed Tunisian intellectuals to launch Le Tunisien in 1907, the first newspaper in the French language in Tunisia, with the aim of influencing the authorities of the Protectorate of Tunisia and French public opinion.

This was recognized by the President Zine el-Abidine Ben Ali and Prime Minister Hamed Karoui[8] without introducing significant change.

According to Lise Garon, the press followed "an imperious demand to show a smooth image to the outside world", resulting in a kind of "internal unanimity".

There have been incidents where print publications have been found to have translated and published material taken from blogs and other online authors, without seeking permission.