SECTOR 4 · There also has been a decline or even a threat to the future of the francophone media as the pre-service training course is offered exclusively in Arabic and as a result of the emergence of a very popular press in Arabic (eg.: the daily newspaper Ech Chrouk). Positive changes: who or what has been the main cause? · The economic consolidation of certain media outlets such as El Khabar and El Watan has had a ripple effect on the rest of the private media. · The high number of print runs (2,500,000 copies a day) is proportional to the demographic growth as well as to the phenomenon of the popular press embodied by the daily newspaper Ech Chrouk (500,000 copies a day). What are the main obstacles for further positive change? · The main obstacle to positive change in the media landscape is the absence of a truly constitutional state and a real political commitment of Algerian authorities. · Interventionism of political parties. · Manipulation of the advertisement market and improper use of government advertisement contracts for political purposes. What kinds of activities are needed over the next two years? - Support the advocacy activities of journalists to decriminalize media offences (legal expertise, one-day meeting to reflect on the issue). - Accompany journalists in the reactivation of the self-regulatory mechanism and, through a workshop, the consolidation of the professional code of conduct for Algerian journalists. - Provide support to the process to reunify and strengthen the press union (organisation of meetings, mediation and other support). AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER ALGERIA 2009 63