[Maghrebia] A group of Algerian journalists are determined to bring their demands to the halls of power. Tahar Fattani is one of the members of the recently-formed Initiative for the Dignity of the Algerian Press. Magharebia spoke to the journalist about the vision and future plans of the campaign.Magharebia: Your group was launched on April 3rd, amid mounting calls for greater press freedom in Algeria. Can you tell us what this initiative is about?
Tahar Fattani: The initiative began well before the General Assembly of April 3rd, when a group of 11 journalists was appointed to communicate the platform of demands to the relevant authorities. This meeting was preceded by two other meetings which enabled the present journalists to decide on the platform of demands. This document was adopted by all of the journalists. It concerns socio-professional grievances and the protest action that might take place.
Magharebia: What are the main points of your agenda?
Fattani: The platform includes the promulgation of a new private status for journalists, the beginning of official negotiations with press workers to discuss the realities of the profession, the introduction of press passes, the revival of the National Ethics Council and the decriminalisation of "press offences", among many other demands.
Magharebia: Have the journalists begun communicating these demands to the authorities?
Fattani: May I point out that the 11 journalists who were appointed on April 3rd were not empowered to negotiate or to speak on behalf of the initiative. Today, I am replying to your questions as an Algerian journalist who has supported this initiative, not on behalf of my colleagues. I do not have the authority to speak for them. The committee responsible for communicating the platform of demands to the authorities has ten days to carry out its task. A meeting which all of the journalists will attend will be held on April 12th to sum up the situation and publish the reports of the 11 journalists.