The Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication, Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, announced on Monday in the House of Representatives the drafting of a new law concerning the National Press Council (CNP). The draft has been reviewed by the government in terms of form, while its content will be discussed with industry professionals as part of the profession's self-regulation process. Responding to questions about the self-regulation of the press sector, the minister explained that the lessons drawn from the self-regulation experience have informed the drafting of this text, with the aim of producing «a law that guarantees self-regulation and the moralization of the press profession». Bensaid elaborated on the self-regulation experience that led to the establishment of the CNP, describing it as «far more than an administrative measure», but rather «a reflection of a profound awareness that press freedom, as enshrined in the Constitution, can only be realized through self-regulation mechanisms». He stressed that self-regulation is designed to reinforce press freedom and uphold the constitutional right to practice the profession. He also highlighted that Article 28 of the Constitution underscores the importance of organizing the press sector on democratic foundations. Self-regulation, he continued, seeks to protect the profession from unethical or unprofessional practices that could damage its reputation, including fake news, disinformation, and other harmful behaviors. Bensaid concluded by emphasizing that self-regulation is not solely the responsibility of journalists, but a shared societal concern, given that the press serves society as a whole.
