Agence de Presse Sénégalaise (APS) is the national news agency in Senegal. It was established in 1959 through a government order. In September 2023, APS launched APS Hebdo, a monthly magazine.
Media assets
News agency: APS
Publishing: APS Hebdo
Ownership and governance
APS was created in 1959 by the Senegalese government through the government order no. 59-054 as a public establishment “with industrial and commercial character.” In 2019, the government changed the status of the agency to that of a “national company.” The agency is accountable to the Ministry of Culture and Communication.
Source of funding and budget
APS is funded mainly by a state subsidy. According to local experts and journalists, APS has an average annual budget of XOF 400m (US$ 740,000). In recent years, APS’ staff have complained about the meager budget, arguing that the agency’s state subsidy has not been increased for years.
Editorial independence
The government editorially controls APS, its coverage being fully in line with the government’s content-related requirements. The agency’s management has traditionally been close to the government party, according to reports by regional watchdog organizations. Like other media in Senegal, APS has also been supportive of the narratives perpetrating propaganda from the Chinese government, according to Freedom House, an NGO based in the U.S.
No domestic statute and no oversight or assessment mechanism to validate the editorial independence of APS have been identified.
July 2024