Research Article Open Access

Disparity Between Journalism Education and Journalism Practice in Four Maghreb States

Abstract

This paper examines the major educational and training programs in journalism and broadcasting in Algeria, Morocco, Tunisia and Libya, and difficulties posed by the political, legal and media structural factors in the application of professional skills acquired through mass communication education. Observations made by journalists, students, academics and media administrators in these four Maghreb states reveal that a variety of political, legal, structural and cultural constraints are adversely affecting the professional practice of journalism and contributing to the disillusionment of an increasing number of professionally trained journalists. As a result, many of them turn away from journalism to enter advertising and public relations. A “bottom-up” approach to journalism is proposed, meaning that journalists focus on politically neutral news values to be able to practice journalism professionally.

Kuldip Roy Rampal

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