Study: Algerian Media Relies on Sensationalism and Misinformation in Foreign News Coverage

Algerian media outlets, including the official Algerian News Agency (APS) and Algerian Radio, systematically produce biased and misleading reports on international affairs, according to a recent linguistic study. The research, published in the "International Journal of Linguistics, Literature and Translation," found that routine news practices result in prejudiced reporting filled with claims about global events, violating journalistic ethics of accuracy, balance, and source integrity.

The study, conducted over three years by researchers Zouhir El Hiri and Mohcine Saaidi El Amraoui, revealed that Algerian websites distort diplomatic events in their foreign news coverage. They reframe events into narratives centered on moral scandals, imaginary conspiracies, and alleged betrayals. This transforms media coverage into political propaganda, stripping journalistic work of its substance.

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Analyzing three articles on the Iran-Israel-US confrontation and one on Morocco-Israel relations using the "Richardson model" for journalistic discourse analysis, the study confirmed the deliberate use of ideologically charged phrases and the distortion of source context. This indicates an institutional desire, supported by the Algerian political system's relationship with the media, to construct an "enemy image" and reduce regional geopolitical complexities to a simple "good versus evil" or "innocent versus guilty" dichotomy.

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The research also noted a contradiction in the Algerian state media's discourse on the Moroccan Sahara issue. While adopting cautious language aligned with the UN on one hand, they reject Morocco's autonomy plan, labeling it a French creation on the other. This inconsistency suggests hegemonic instability and signals a potential future reordering of discourse within Algeria's media and political systems under structural diplomatic pressures, including UN Security Council Resolution 2797.

El Hiri and El Saaidi El Amraoui emphasized that Algerian coverage of foreign affairs relies heavily on reporting crises through an sensationalist and scandalous lens. This approach violates professional ethics and lacks the standards that distinguish journalism from propaganda. They pointed to the manipulation of a statement from UN Secretary-General António Guterres to promote a narrative not originating from the source. The study also highlighted the focus by Algerian media on claims of a ship carrying weapons destined for Israel docking in Morocco.

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Culture does not bow to Brussels' diktats.