SECTOR 2 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: 3.9 2.3 Efforts are undertaken to increase the scope of circulation of the print media, particularly to rural communities. Distribution problems due to the remoteness of certain areas and the involvement of third parties throughout the distribution chain result in the late delivery of the print media in certain parts of the country (for instance the South of the country in areas such as Tamanrasset). Nevertheless, the situation is gradually going back to normal. The government has made significant efforts to ensure the distribution of state media in remote regions and even in the most isolated hamlets in the country. However, the public authorities have shown no particular sign of eagerness to facilitate the circulation of newspapers published by the private media. An equalization fund established in the 90s to harmonize the cost of consumer goods, including newspapers, nationwide had no effect in the media sector. A total of 3 distribution companies work throughout the country, 5 in the Eastern part of the country, 4 in the Western part and 1 in the Southern part of the country. 8 wholesale distributors complete this network. Local printing houses also help to reduce delivery distances and hence improve the circulation of the print media. It is however, true that, given the number of papers published in Algeria, there are definitely not enough printing houses in the country. There are essentially five public printers (Société d’Impression d’AlgerSIA, Société d’Impression d’Alger–SIMPRAL and Algérienne de Presse-ENAP in Algiers; Société d’Impression de l’Ouest–SIO in Oran and Société d’Impression de l’Est-SIE in Constantine) and six privately-owned printing houses of which three belong collectively to El Khabar and El Watan (ALDP in Algiers, with two units El Achour and Gué of Constantine, the printing house of the newspaper Quotidien d’Oran and one in Constantine), and the printing unit of the newspaper l’Authentique. AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER ALGERIA 2009 31