Fascinating Video Shows Formerly State-Run Tunisian Newspaper Reinventing Itself

Video

by Jon Bershad | 12:47 pm, February 7th, 2011

» 5 comments

What do you do when you’ve spent your entire career writing propaganda for fear of being jailed by the government and then, suddenly, one day, that government’s not there? That’s the question being faced by the staff of La Presse de Tunisie, a formerly state-run newspaper in Tunisia. Their struggles to answer this question are captured in a fascinating report put together by Time.

“Our newspaper, for 20 years now, has been disinforming the people rather than informing them,” says the paper’s Director, Hmida Ben Romdhane. However, while La Presse tried to switch directions the instant President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali fled, such a massive shift is not an easy thing to do. The cameras are rolling as the staff angrily fights over what to do with the paper’s Editor and Chief who was also a loyalist to the former regime.

However, outside of the tension over the new direction, there is also a clear sense of excitement. The video begins and ends with footage of writer Abel Aziz Hali as he happily interviews people on the street, no longer fearing repercussions. Now, he says, he can do his work as a “free journalist.”

Watch the video from Time below:

La Presse de Tunisie, Time, Tunisia

http://endisfar.com theendisfar

This is awesome to behold. However, terrible wars are likely to occur in the Middle East and North Africa in the near term. Saddest part is that Americans are more than likely going to allow ourselves to get neck deep in it rather than do what is necessary. They have their chance for Independence, will they hold onto it?

Since Tunisia and Egypt are getting a new system of Government, it got me thinking, what would a new American Government look like if we could have a new one too. http://wp.me/pB8xR-7k
http://endisfar.com theendisfar

theendisfar said:
Saddest part is that Americans are more than likely going to allow ourselves to get neck deep in it rather than do what is necessary.

Redo. Saddest part is that People are going to allow themselves to get neck deep in it and Central Planning Tyrants or Oligarchies are going end up in control again. We need to support those that want Freedom, not just some Change.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Joseph-Glackin/100000892011713 Joseph Glackin

It’s time for the US to step back and let the rest of the world run itself. Supporting strongmen has given us short term benefits and undying hatred from the oppressed majority. From Chiang Kai Shek to Sygnman Rhee to Diem to Marcos to Batista to Noriega to the Shah and the Duvaliers, we have a sorry past. The arrogance that we can decide who should take part in talks in Egypt shown by BillOhno is how we got the name ugly Americans. By his standards, fundamentalist Christians should not be allowed to participate in US politics.
fgoodwin

I am happy for the people of Tunisia, Egypt, Yemen and all who yearn to be free. If they freely elect the Muslim Brotherhood or Hamas, let them. They will live with the consequences, good or bad. If we (the US) would simply let them decide for themselves, maybe the fundamentalist regimes would in turn leave us alone.
LarryB

Good story, good decision by Mediate to include it.