SECTOR 4 The media practice high levels of professional standards. 4.1 The media follow voluntary codes of professional standards, which are enforced by self-regulatory bodies that deal with complaints from the public. Algerian journalists set up an Ethics and Deontology Council in May 2000. However, this regulatory body has never taken the least action (sanction, notification or communiqué) regarding any issue. And this is certainly not due to a lack of complaints about the way information is processed by the media. The regulatory body eventually fell into a dormant state. In the general opinion of the panel, the new generation of journalists has no points of reference. Yet, the media had prepared a professional code of conduct inspired by the universal values that underlie the journalistic profession. Likewise, certain publications such as El Khabar (has the highest circulation figures among the Algerian media) have internal mechanisms and adopted a code of conduct to ensure that professional and moral standards are respected. Despite all that, the media is characterized by numerous excesses. The way of covering Christian Evangelists and the way cases of illegal immigrants from Sub-Saharan Africa were covered was contrary to the most basic principles of journalistic professional conduct. In the absence of a reliable and functional self-regulatory mechanism, the public has no power against these excesses and can only turn to the courts. Scores: Individual scores: 1 Country does not meet indicator 2 Country minimally meets aspects of the indicator. 3 Country meets many aspects of indicator but progress may be too recent to judge. 4 Country meets most aspects of indicator. 5 Country meets all aspects of the indicator and has been doing so over time. Average score: 52 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER ALGERIA 2009 1.3