The importance of public service is that you have to concentrate on the citizens and it's a case of trust and competence.
In addition to training the editorial staff of the main state media outlets, the project aims to strengthen our partners’ understanding of public service broadcasting values and equip managers with the skills and knowledge to lead the transition process.
The project aims to increase the quality and interactivity of the programming and encourage participation from audiences across the whole of the country’s provinces.
Changing media sector
A media bill, yet to be implemented, was passed in 2011 to open up the television and radio sector in Algeria to private operators.
To help prepare our partners for this changing landscape, the training and development programme does not only target editorial and technical staff but also HR, finance, sales and marketing, communications and audience research teams.
The HR training helps staff know more about their rights and responsibilities while finance training will contribute to improved transparency.
The project includes all 48 of Radio Algérienne’s local stations along with the regional APS news agency bureaux.
Public service values
The training itself is delivered by international trainers using a range of techniques, including individual on-the-job support, large group work, debates and online learning.
Conferences have also been held, featuring guest speakers from different countries to show what public service broadcasting means in their own countries and the universal values they share.
One journalist, who attended one of the conferences, said that he had learned that, "the importance of public service is that you have to concentrate on the citizens and it’s a case of trust and competence."
Another said, "I understood that public service means showing different opinions." While another participant recognised training was useful because, "We are going to face competition from the private sector."
Project information
Project name | Supporting public sector broadcasting |
Funder | The UK's |
Dates | 2012-2019 |
Themes | Governance |
Broadcast partners | Radio Algérienne, Télévision Algérienne (EPTV) and Algerian news agency, APS (Algérie Presse Service) |