About RAP 21 Search Archives Sign a Protest Letter Join RAP 21 Contact RAP 21 French
Other articles in the RAP 21 Newsletter n° 54/2002:
The Business of Newspapers
The importance of the media during elections
Newsletter n° 54
THE BUSINESS OF NEWSPAPERS

State subsidy is risky business

The Angolan government announced their intention to support the private press financially in November 2001, but have so far produced no results.

This is a sensitive issue in a country where press freedom is limited.

"Discussions have been going on for a while now. The government has said that it is interested in buying newsprint for the private press, and even a printing plant," says Sebastiao Marcues, cultural editor at the weekly Agora, one of the six private newspapers in the Angolan capital Luanda.

The lack of newsprint is one of the main problems of the private press in Angola, as is the fact that they have only one printing plant for use.

"This is why all the private newspapers are weekly - we all share the same printing plant and with the constant lack of paper added to that, we simply don’t have the possibility to print more editions," says Mr Marcues.

He welcomes the initiative of the government, although he is sceptical about their intentions and the possible consequences of this kind of support: "There are definitely risks connected to this project. Press freedom in Angola is limited, and there is fear that the government will want to exercise control and put pressure on the private press through this subsidy."

To prevent such problems, the private press is getting organised, says Mr Marcues. The editors are planning to create an association, giving them the possibility to be united and therefor stronger when negotiating with the government.

As to why the Angolan government is suddenly interested in supporting the private press, Mr Marcues believes it’s mainly a question of image.

"This is something that would help clear their image, show that they are willing to promote democracy in Angola. The best way to do it is to help the private press which is the only indicator of how the country is succeeding in implementing democracy. But the private press has too many problems to be powerful in its role for the time being, and the lack of paper is one of them."

William Tonet, editor-in-chief of the weekly newspaper Folha 8, is more critical about the planned state subsidy: "I am still waiting to hear something concrete about this. They started speaking about the subsidy three months ago, but nothing concrete has happened yet," says Mr Tonet.

He said there must be strict rules for how the subsidy would be used by the private press: "It is a very risky project, and therefore we need rules. Otherwise government officials can walk into our newsrooms at any time, making the argument that they have supported us financially. This is also why I have been so reluctant about the whole project, I think we need to establish rules first."

Has the government of your country given financial support to the private press? What were the results? Send your comment to rap21@wan.asso.fr
Post a comment

Comments
© 2003 World Association of Newspapers - All Rights Reserved
Please send all technical comments regarding this site to our Webmaster
diabetic desserts recipes recipes Diabetic Soups Holiday Pizza Recipes Popcorn Recipes Recipes For Microwave Pasta Recipes Casserole Recipes Chili Recipes Curry Recipes Crockpot Recipes Apples Recipes Bread Recipes Vegetarian Recipes Vegetable recipes Desserts Recipes Appetizers Ethnic Recipes Meat Dishes Barbecue Recipes Sauces Recipes Marinade Recipes Low Fat Recipes Frugal Gourmet Kitchen Classics Recipes On The Grill Cook Books Seafood Recipes Cajun Recipes Breads Low Fat Low Fat Breads Bread Machine Recipes Yeast Breads Quick Breads Fat Free Vegetarian Salad Recipes Eggplant Recipes Radish Recipes Tomato Recipes Jalapeno Recipes Potato Recipes Lettuce Recipes Cabbage Recipes Beans Ambrosia Recipes Biscotti Recipes Desserts Low Fat Cookie Recipes Cheesecake Recipes Cake Recipes Pie Recipes Muffin Recipes Custard Recipes Best Appetizers Appetizers Low Fat Salsa Recipes Dip Recipes International Recipes Afghan Recipes Alaska Recipes French Recipes German Recipes Greek Recipes Italian Recipes Spanish Recipes Thai Recipes Korean Recipes Chinese Recipes Mexican Recipes Indian Recipes Beef Recipes Pork Pork & Ham Pork Butts Pork Chop Recipes Pork Ribs Rulled Pork Poultry Recipes Stews Recipes Ground Beef Barbecue Grill Barbecue Smoker All Purpose Sauce BBQ Sauce Barbecue Sauce Carolina BBQ Sauce Pickle Recipes Marinades Smoking Low Fat Appetizers & Dips Low Fat Breakfast Low Fat Cakes Low Fat Cheesecakes Low Fat Cookies Low Fat Desserts Low Fat Fish & Seafood Low Fat Meats Low Fat Pasta Low Fat Pies Low Fat Salads Low Fat Sandwiches Low Fat Sauces & Condiments Low Fat Sides Low Fat Soups Low Fat Vegetarian Baker's Dozen Taste of Home Recipe Book Bon Appetit Cookbook Blacktie Cookbook Buster Cook Book Martha Stewart Cookbook Cookbook USA Cook Book Cook Book Sara's Cookbook Sara's Cookbook Appetizers and Dips Poultry recipes Diabetic recipes Holiday recipes Miscellaneous recipes 110 recipes 1986 Usenet cookbook 2900 recipes Cyberrealm recipes Great sysops of world Specialty recipes Ceideburg recipes Cheese recipes Chili recipes Fruits recipes Garlic recipes Great chefs of NY Londontowne recipes Raisins recipes Recipes for kids US Food Vegetarian recipes Bread recipes Drinks Meat Dishes Brisket recipes Caribou recipes Chicken recipes Filet mignons recipes Pork recipes Swordfish recipes Turkey recipes Pasta recipes Uncategorized recipes Ethnic recipes Canada recipes English recipes Ethiopia recipes Germany recipes Greece recipes Mexican recipes Philippines recipes Welsh recipes Microwave recipes Soups recipes Vegetable recipes Asparagus recipes Barley recipes Brown rice recipes Lentil recipes Mushrooms recipes Salads recipes Wild rice Desserts recipes Cakes recipes Chocolate recipes Cookies recipes Ice cream recipes