El Watan
Encyclopedia
El Watan is an independent newspaper
in Algeria
. The paper was founded in 1990 after Omar Belhouchet
and nineteen colleagues left the FLN
government-owned newspaper El Moudjahid
(English
: "The Holy Warrior").
It aims to promote democracy and to give coverage to the Algerian opposition, and has acted as an outspoken voice against censorship
and corruption
. It has been suspended several times by the Algerian government, and journalist
s and editors jailed for various offenses. Its reporters have, according to the international press watchdogs Reporters Without Borders
(RSF) and Committee to Protect Journalists
(CPJ) been targeted by both government forces and Islamist insurgent
s.
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
in Algeria
Algeria
Algeria , officially the People's Democratic Republic of Algeria , also formally referred to as the Democratic and Popular Republic of Algeria, is a country in the Maghreb region of Northwest Africa with Algiers as its capital.In terms of land area, it is the largest country in Africa and the Arab...
. The paper was founded in 1990 after Omar Belhouchet
Omar Belhouchet
Omar Belhouchet is an Algerian journalist who has been prosecuted by his government on numerous occasions. He publishes the daily newspaper El Watan , which he founded in 1990 after he and nineteen colleagues left the FLN government-owned newspaper El Moudjahid .-Journalism:After receiving a...
and nineteen colleagues left the FLN
National Liberation Front (Algeria)
The National Liberation Front is a socialist political party in Algeria. It was set up on November 1, 1954 as a merger of other smaller groups, to obtain independence for Algeria from France.- Anticolonial struggle :...
government-owned newspaper El Moudjahid
El Moudjahid
El Moudjahid is an Algerian French language newspaper. It was originally conceived as an FLN guerrilla information bulletin during the 1954-62 Algerian War, circulated among resistance fighters...
(English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
: "The Holy Warrior").
It aims to promote democracy and to give coverage to the Algerian opposition, and has acted as an outspoken voice against censorship
Censorship
thumb|[[Book burning]] following the [[1973 Chilean coup d'état|1973 coup]] that installed the [[Military government of Chile |Pinochet regime]] in Chile...
and corruption
Political corruption
Political corruption is the use of legislated powers by government officials for illegitimate private gain. Misuse of government power for other purposes, such as repression of political opponents and general police brutality, is not considered political corruption. Neither are illegal acts by...
. It has been suspended several times by the Algerian government, and journalist
Journalist
A journalist collects and distributes news and other information. A journalist's work is referred to as journalism.A reporter is a type of journalist who researchs, writes, and reports on information to be presented in mass media, including print media , electronic media , and digital media A...
s and editors jailed for various offenses. Its reporters have, according to the international press watchdogs Reporters Without Borders
Reporters Without Borders
Reporters Without Borders is a France-based international non-governmental organization that advocates freedom of the press. It was founded in 1985, by Robert Ménard, Rony Brauman and the journalist Jean-Claude Guillebaud. Jean-François Julliard has served as Secretary General since 2008...
(RSF) and Committee to Protect Journalists
Committee to Protect Journalists
The Committee to Protect Journalists is an independent nonprofit organisation based in New York City that promotes press freedom and defends the rights of journalists.-History:A group of U.S...
(CPJ) been targeted by both government forces and Islamist insurgent
Insurgency
An insurgency is an armed rebellion against a constituted authority when those taking part in the rebellion are not recognized as belligerents...
s.
External links
El Watan homepage- El-Watan ordered to pay fine - IFEXInternational Freedom of Expression ExchangeThe International Freedom of Expression eXchange , founded in 1992, is a global network of around 90 non-governmental organisations that promotes and defends the right to freedom of expression....