SECTOR 2 According to one of the panellists, newspaper editions sometimes have to be “wrapped up” by 4pm to hope to appear in newspaper stands the following morning. Otherwise, it is preferable to be “a friend of the printer” in order to be well placed in the queue of newspapers to be printed. In 2008 and 2009, the government installed two printing units worth 40 billion Algerian centimes each (approximately 4 million Euros) in Ouargla and Bechar. These units are both part of the Société d’Impression d’Alger-SIA. In addition to these companies and industrial units, there are also other public and private printing houses specializing in the printing of magazines and reviews. These include ANEP (Rouiba), EPA (Editions Populaires de l’Armée) in Ouled Fayet, Diwan, etc 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: 2.9 2.4 The editorial independence of print media published by a public authority is protected adequately against undue political interference In Algeria, there are 6 daily newspapers edited by the government: El Moudjahid, Al Chaâb, An Nasr, El Djoumhouria, Horizons and El Massa. According to panel members, these newspapers have no editorial independence. In this regard, certain panel members do not hesitate to draw a parallel with government media of the most totalitarian regimes of the planet. They expressed their satisfaction that these newspapers are not widely read by the public and not printed in large numbers. Act 90-07 stipulates that “the government, at any moment, may prepare and circulate to the public, written, oral or televised declarations and communications it deems necessary. This information is announced as emanating from the government. This 32 AFRICAN MEDIA BAROMETER ALGERIA 2009