Tunis Afrique Presse (TAP) is a new agency in Tunisia, which was founded in 1961. With a team of journalists of over 300, it covers local, national and international news.
Media assets
News agency: TAP
State Media Matrix Typology: State-Controlled (SC)
Ownership and governance
TAP is a public enterprise subordinated to the Presidency of the Government, which appoints the group’s CEO. In March 2023, Najeh Missaoui, former head of the newscast programming on the first channel of the Tunisian state television, was appointed at TAP’s helm.
Source of funding and budget
Some 80%-90% of the TAP’s budget comes from the government and the rest is generated through sales of editorial products, including news content and photos.
Editorial independence
There are no editorial rules imposed by the government on TAP. The agency has so far managed to stave off attacks from authorities, being referred to as a “rare” example of an Arab news agency with editorial independence. Yet, following the introduction of “exceptional measures” by president Saied in July 2021, the agency has come under strict editorial control. That led to a strike organized in April 2022 by journalists from all state media in Tunisia, TAP included, over the government interference in their editorial decisions.
No domestic statute and no oversight or assessment mechanism that would validate TAP’s editorial independence have been identified.
August 2023