SECTOR 4 4.4. Equal opportunities, regardless of race, social group, gender/sex, religion, disabilities and age are promoted in media houses. Recruitment in the public sector is done based on relations (family, especially) and affinities (political cooptation). There is a greater competitive spirit in the private sector when it comes to professional, economic and social opportunities. However, in all sectors, there is an under representation of senior journalists and a certain discrimination against regional correspondents. 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: 1.8 4.5 Journalists and editors do not practice selfcensorship. Numerous instances of self-censorship tend to “we had some prove that the phenomenon is widespread in the Algerian media. Very often, the media practice information on Khalifa, self-censorship for economic reasons. Information but we couldn’t say it” regarding “big advertisers” is carefully dealt with for fear of possible retaliation to an unfavourable article. Journalists admit that “we had some information on Khalifa (the Algerian businessman convicted in absentia to life imprisonment for the fraudulent declaration of bankruptcy of his bank, conspiracy, robbery, misappropriation of funds, etc...), but we couldn’t say it”. Likewise, the sentencing of the most important telephone operator in the country, “Djezzy”, by the Telecommunications and Postal Service Regulatory Authority (ARTP) in 2007 was completely ignored by the media. AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER ALGERIA 2009 55