CHAD MEDIA PROFILE

UNCLAS NDJAMENA 000409


STATE FOR IIP/G/AF (AMURPHY AND EYORK),IIP/T/GIC (JBOCHNER),AF/C
(GMCKEEL),AF/PDPA (TAYBAR, BWHARTON)
POSTS FOR PAOS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KPAO OIIP CD
SUBJECT: CHAD MEDIA PROFILE

REF: NDJAMENA 0260



1. INTRODUCTION AND SUMMARY
--------------

Reftel discussed in general terms problems facing the media in Chad
and initiatives being taken by media organizations to improve the
situation. This message establishes a baseline by which to measure,
quantitatively and qualitatively, media operations in Chad as they
evolve. Though the number of print and electronic media continues
to grow, it should be kept in mind that the majority of Chadians,
especially those living outside urban areas, continues to receive
information on issues of local and national interest via interaction
with traditional chiefs, religious figures and other community
leaders. The next most common source for news would be radio in
local languages, Arabic or French. The international news sources,
such RFI, BBC, and Al Jazeera, are widely respected and listened to.
Domestic media are divided into two large groups,
government-controlled and independent. The latter, including print,
radio and websites (Chad's only TV station is government run) are
affiliated with religious organizations, political parties or
politicians, humanitarian and development NGOs and community
organizations. Many could be classified as supporting and being
supported by those opposed to the GOC. Typically, a number of media
organizations appear and disappear or operate sporadically
throughout a given year. Difficulties due to censorship or
self-censorship mentioned reftel are compounded by extremely trying
working conditions with electricity blackouts and scarcity of
newsprint and other supplies and equipment being chronic problems.


2. BACKGROUND
--------------

Chad ranks as one of the poorest countries in the world. About 10
percent of the population of 10 million lives in the capital
Ndjamena. The majority of the rest are distributed in much smaller
cities and rural villages, mostly in the southern half of the
country. Transportation and communication infrastructure is weak
over a land mass three times that of California. The exception to
this is the cellular phone boom that has grown to a network covering
most of the country, served by three major cellular phone operators.
Lack of electricity, with only four or five cities with power
plants, makes for serious development challenges, and complicates
enormously the task of running radio stations and printing
newspapers. Low literacy rates and a multitude of languages limit
the audience for print information. Although radio is the most
accessible media to the general population, no single radio station
broadcasts nationwide. In terms of content, government stations are
the source of record for official decisions, activities of the
president and cabinet ministers and GOC projects and programs.
Nevertheless, private radio stations are given greater credence by
the general populace. Opposition party leaders, civil society
activists and other non-governmental leaders tend to receive more
coverage and airtime on private stations compared to
government-owned stations



3. LOCAL MEDIA
--------------

The Ministry of Communication oversees all media activities in Chad.
The High Council for Communication (HCC) created in 1993, acts as a
regulatory body and interfaces with local media and the government.
The number of local print and electronic media continues to grow
although some fail even as new ones start up.


A. GOVERNMENT-CONTROLLED MEDIA

The government of Chad runs two major media institutions:
- The radio-television network (known as Office National de Radio
Television du Tchad) comprising a satellite TV channel and the
Chadian National Radio(RNT),which has local stations in Faya,
Abeche, Moundou, and Sarh and broadcasts in French and various
national languages
- Chadian Press Agency (ATP)
Additionally, GOC sponsors two websites, one issuing from the
President's Office and the other from that of the Prime Minister


B. PRIVATE MEDIA

Radio Stations:

- Radio Dja FM (N'djamena; languages - French, Chadian Arabic,
Sara): generally critical of government policies
- Radio FM Libert (N'djamena; languages -- French, Chadian Arabic,
Sara): founded by a collectivity of human rights organizations;
often critical of the government
- Radio Al Nassr (N'djamena; languages - French, Standard Arabic,
Chadian Arabic, Sara): pro-government
- Radio Al Quran al Karim (N'djamena; languages - French, Standard
Arabic, Chadian Arabic): owned by the High Council for Islamic
Affairs
- Radio Al Bayan (N'djamena; languages - Standard Arabic, Chadian
Arabic): cultural radio station broadcasting programs aimed at
Muslim youth.
- Radio Voix de l'Esperance (N'djamena; languages - French, Chadian
Arabic, Sara): owned by the Evangelical Church
- Radio Harmonie (N'Djamena; language -- French): cultural and
music radio station, subsidized by French Cultural Center.
- Radio Arc-en-Ciel (N'djamena; languages - French, Chadian Arabic,
Sara): community radio affiliated with the Catholic Church
- Radio Ngato FM (N'djamena; languages - French, Chadian Arabic,
Sara): commercial radio
- Radio Terre Nouvelle (Bongor; languages - French, Chadian Arabic,
Peul, Massa): member of the Catholic Church radio network
- Radio La Voix du Paysan (Doba; languages - French, Chadian Arabic,
Sara): member of the Catholic Church radio network
- Radio Lotiko (Sarh; languages - French, Chadian Arabic, Nganbay):
member of the Catholic Church radio network
- Radio Duji Lokar (Moundou; languages - French, Chadian Arabic,
Nganbay): member of the Catholic Church radio network
- Radio Karuba (Moundou; languages - French, Chadian Arabic,
Nganbay): owned by a local human rights organization
- Radio Brakoss (Moissala; languages - French, Chadian Arabic,
Sara): community radio station affiliated with Bahai Faith
- Radio Djimi (Mao; languages - French, Chadian Arabic, Kanembu):
community radio station
- Radio Absoun (Iriba; languages - Chadian Arabic, Sudanese Arabic,
Zaghawa, Massalit, Fur): community radio aimed at Sudanese refugees
and Chadians in the Chad-Sudan border region
- Radio Palmeraie (Faya; languages - French, Goran): community
radio
- Radio Evangelique REDG (Pala; languages - French, Moundang and
other local languages): affiliated with the Lutheran Church in
Chad
- Radio Communautaire de Pala (Pala; languages - French and other
local languages): community radio
- Radio Barh El-Gazal (Moussoro; languages - French, Chadian
Arabic): community radio station
- Radio Al Nadja (Ati; languages - French, Chadian Arabic): owned
by a local development association.
- Radio La Voix du Ouaddai (Abeche; languages - French; Chadian
Arabic): community radio station sponsored by an NGO called
Internews
- Radio Fada (Fada; languages - French, Goran): community radio
station.

French-Language Newspapers:

- N'Djamena Bi-Hebdo: privately owned bi-weekly newspaper carrying
critical analyses of government policies
- Tchad & Culture: monthly magazine; put out by a development NGO
affiliated with the Catholic Church in Chad. Generally moderate but
does publish articles considered to be critical of GOC; located in
N'Djamena
- L'Observateur: privately owned weekly newspaper often critical of
government policies; located in N'Djamena
- Le Progrhs: privately owned daily usually carrying pro-government
news and political positions; based in N'Djamena Comment: Le
Progres is rumored to belong to MPS, the ruling party. Two factors
support the rumor: a) the current Minister of Communication, a
former secretary general of the MPS, is the founder of Le Progrhs;
b) it has unusually good access to information from government
sources. End comment.
- Da'Kouna: Bi-monthly youth magazine from N'Djamena. Embassy PD
section pays for a page in each number with Washington or
post-generated articles, press releases and photos
- Le Temps: privately owned N'Djamena weekly newspaper often
critical of government policies. (Its Director has been jailed a
number of times.)
- Notre Temps: privately owned N'Djamena weekly; started up the
younger brother of the owner of Le Temps; generally highly critical
of government policies. (As with Le Temps, its Director has been
jailed and accused of libeling government officials. It was closed
by the GOC following the insurrection in 2008 and has recently
reopened.)
- Sarh Tribune: privately owned newspaper published twice a month,
based in Sarh, southern Chad; often critical of government
policies.
- Le Messager: privately owned published twice a month, also based
in Sarh; often critical of government policies.
- La Voix: weekly N'Djamena newspaper owned by a human rights
activist; mostly critical of GOC policies


Arabic-Language Newspapers:

Even more irregular than the French newspapers, many Arabic
newspapers appear only sporadically. Readership is limited and
these papers are generally not relied upon by the citizenry or
government officials.

- Ndjamena Al-Djadida: independent newspaper distributed in
Ndjamena and Abeche. Critical of government policies, especially
with respect to Sudan.

- Al-Adwaa: independent weekly newspaper. Critical of government
policies and associated with rebel groups in the east of the country
that have recently reconciled with the GOC.

- Al-Ayam: Privately owned weekly newspaper often critical of
government policies. It generally focuses on religious issues. It is
part of the Islamic media network in Chad, which also includes Radio
Al-Bayane. It serves as a platform for young Arabic-speaking
Muslims. It is distributed in N'djamena, Abeche and Moundou.
Generally thought to be funded by wealthy individuals in Saudi
Arabia and the Gulf states.

- Al-Hadara: Independent N'Djamena newspaper run by a doctor and
focusing on health and nutrition issues

- Albatha: Bilingual newspaper in N'Djamena covering general news

- Tachad Al-Youm: Independent N'Djamena newspaper

- Magazine Dar Ouaddai: Quarterly private magazine funded by the
Sultan of Abeche. It focuses on the culture of the Ouaddai region.
It is distributed in Ndjamena, Abeche and Moundouand and is
generally supportive of GOC.



C. MAJOR WEBSITES AND BLOGS

Apart the first two URLs listed below, most Chadian website are
owned by groups or individuals opposed to the GOC.

Websites

Prsidence du Tchad : http://www.presidencetchad.org/

Primature : http://www.primature-tchad.org/

Tchadactuel : http://www.tchadactuel.com/

Alwihda: http://www.alwihdainfo.com/

Tchadvision: http://www.tchadvision.com/

Tchadforum: http://www.tchadforum.com/

Ialtchad: http://www.ialtchad.com/

Alhifrig: http://www.alhifrig.com/

PPLD http://www.pldtchad.org/
Lale http://www.lale-online.com
Tchadanthropus http://www.letchadanthropus.com
Tchadforum http://www.tchadforum.com
Tchadonline http://tchadonline.com
Tchad Espoir http://www.tchadespoir.net
Tchad-net http://www.tchad-net.com
Tchad Info http://www.tchad-info.net
Tribunecoum http://www.tribunecoum.com
Yorongar http://www.yorongar.com
Zoom Tchad http://www.zoomtchad.com
TchadHanana http://www.tchadhanana.org
Waldari http://www.toumai-tchadhanana.com

Blogs
Ambenatna http://ambenatna.over-blog.com
Anti-Deby http://antideby.over-blog.com
Tchado http://tchado.com
Tchachadi http://tchadchadi.com
Makaila http://makaila.over-blog.com
N'djamena-matin http://ndjamena-matin.com
RDPL http://rdpl.over-blog.com



4. MEDIA PROFESSIONAL/TRAINING ORGANIZATIONS
--------------

- MAISON des Medias (Media House): newly created organization with
support of German development agency DED, whose purpose is chiefly
to provide training for journalists
- Union des Journalistes du Tchad (UJT): main professional
organization in the country
- Union des Radios Privees du Tchad (URPT): grouping of private
station owners and directors
- Association des Editeurs de la Presse Privee au Tchad (AEPT) :
private sector editors group
- Syndicat des Professionnels de la Communication (SPC) : Union of
Communication Professionals
- Union des Femmes Professionnelles de la Communication (UFPC) :
women's professional media association
- Societe pour le Developpement des Medias en Afrique (SODEMA)
- Observatoire de la Deontologie et de l'Ethique des Medias au Tchad
(ODEMET): NGO that watches over media ethics
- Groupes de Recherches et d'Echanges Technologiques (GRET) :
French NGO
- Association des Techniciens de la Communication (ATC)
- Media Excel Formation (MEF): Training organization for
journalists



5. CHALLENGES FACED BY THE MEDIA
--------------

- Legal issues: the most controversial development, one that has the
potential to pit the government against media, concerns Ordinance

05. This law, promulgated in February 2008, outlines the GOC's
responsibilities vis-`-vis the media and the media's toward the
government and the public. There are a number of highly
problematic articles in the ordinance that set out penalties for
such things as "provocations" aimed at "diverting" the security
forces from their work, or for various types of libel (diffimation).
These and other "crimes" are notable for the vagueness in which
they are described in the ordinance. For example, language
reflecting negatively upon the "honor" of an official can get a
journalist and/or his publication a large fine and 2 years in
prison.

Note: There is anecdotal evidence that while Ordinance 05 has not
been widely used to overtly restrict the media, it has served to
create an atmosphere of self-censorship. Some journalists and
editors prefer not to test the limits of how far they can go with
critical commentary. Nevertheless, at this writing, no journalists
are known to be imprisoned and those who have been in the past had
shorter sentences than those provided for in the ordinance.
Moreover, opposition newspapers have recently been getting away with
rather vitriolic criticism of GOC policies on a variety of subjects.
Therefore one can say that despite the ominous Ordinance 05, there
is a de facto liberal operating environment for the media. End
comment.

- Electricity shortages: lack of electricity has made life
enormously difficult for the media in Chad. Those institutions that
cannot afford generators or the fuel to run them simply stop
operations during the daily blackouts. It restricts many radio
stations to two to six hours a day of broadcasting. Likewise some
newspapers often must delay publication as office equipment and
presses go dead.

- Lack of financial resources: The Chadian constitution stipulates
that some government resources should be granted annually to support
the media. Funds administered by the High Council of Communications
are to be allocated to individual media institutions based on their
print runs, subscription figures or listener base. There has been
much controversy over the way the funds are distributed. In 2008,
members of the HCC were accused of embezzlement and the former
chairman of the Council is still a fugitive, wanted for theft of HCC
funds. Newsprint must be imported and its cost is one of the
reasons that all but the best financed newspapers are constantly on
the verge of closing shop.

- Training and professionalism: Most journalists working in the
media in Chad, especially the private media, have had little or no
training or formal preparation. The Department of Communications at
the University of N'Djamena is less than five years old, and is
considered to have a weak faculty. The minority of Chadian
journalists who have been trained usually traveled abroad for this
training. Any specialized expertise such as in covering the
environment, politics, economics, development or education is
extremely rare.



6. FOREIGN SUPPORT FOR THE MEDIA
--------------

A number of foreign missions and international agencies have
supported the media in Chad in recent years, chiefly through
training programs. The USG funds a number of projects through
development grants. These include community based radio programs
focusing on women's issues or aimed at youth. There is a
USAID-funded program to train community radio reporters and another
to train community radio personnel in studio production techniques.
The post brought American journalism trainers to Chad in 2008 and
2009 to conduct workshops for working journalists and university
students. Post has also granted funds to the Union of Private Radio
Stations and to the Union of Chadian Journalists to participate in
workshops on environmental journalism and for student internships.
Post also tries to send at least one Chadian journalist to
participate in a media-related IVP each year. German aid programs
have also assisted Chadian journalists form professional
associations and UNESCO has supported local training programs funded
through the HCC.



7. COMMENT
--------------

Despite all the negatives, one should not dismiss the modest
improvement in the media environment in Chad in the past year, as
noted above. The growing number of community radio stations is
providing access to information to the population in their own
languages and provides a medium through which citizens can share
experiences and discuss issues of concern to them. The newly
established "Maison de Presse" has the potential to reinvigorate
organized journalists, giving them a vehicle for administering their
own training programs, overseeing issues of media ethics and best
practices and aiding them in presenting a united front with respect
to problems with censorship and threats to press freedom. There is
also cautious optimism that with the reopening of journals
previously closed and release from prison of opposition editors the
GOC may be developing a more mature and tolerant approach to the
media. If so, this is a fragile state of affairs, whose stability
likely depends on a parallel stability in the very same political
and security situation that journalists seek the freedom to report
upon.


SBREMNER