Mervet Chaktmi

Researcher in media and communication

Investigative journalism in Tunisia:

Practices in the context of challenges

A revolution

Transformation of the media landscape

• Press of freedom: 72nd position in 2020 VS 164th place in 2010 its highest ranking ever recorded

• Adoption of new legal texts and the establishment of regulatory institutions

• Journalists increasingly expressed a desire to assert and have recognized the public's right

to information ( Pluralism)

• The most significant transformation lies in the emergence of the concept of “investigative journalism.” ( training = academic education)

• Emergence of several online platforms specializing in investigative reporting, such as Nawaat, Alqatiba, and Inkyfada + freelance journalists

Only Inkyfada and Alqatiba

still regularly practice

investigative journalism.

Olivier Kosh: “in the transitional phase, more generally, the entire journalistic field is in crisis—a crisis resulting from the loss of legitimacy of former norms and professional practices”

الاشكالية

In this context, it becomes crucial to study the investigative practices of these two media organizations, while also analyzing the various challenges that hinder the production of rigorous journalistic investigations.

Research questions:

​

1. How has the Tunisian media landscape evolved since the 2011 revolution, and what role does investigative journalism play within it?

​

2. How do Inkyfada and Alqatiba contribute to the watchdog role of the press in Tunisia and what investigative practices do they employ to fulfill this mission?

​

3. What are the main structural, political and professional challenges hindering the growth of investigative journalism in Tunisia since 2011?

Investigative media outlets in Tunisia and public sphere

​

• Journalism plays a pivotal role in informing citizens and stimulating public debate—two pillars essential to democratic life.

• Investigative platforms have emerged to promote transparency and accountability, and to expand public discourse: Inkyfada ( 2014) and Alqatiba ( 2019).

• Inkyfada: Its investigations focus on governance, social inequality, migration, and economic justice. The outlet has also participated in international projects such as the Panama Papers and Pandora Papers, strengthening Tunisia’s visibility in global investigative journalism.

• Alqatiba has become a leading voice in Tunisia’s independent investigative journalism. It has uncovered cases of corruption, mismanagement, and environmental abuse, with several investigations prompting official and legal actions, demonstrating its real impact on transparency and accountability, including through international collaborations.

​

Challenges Facing Investigative Journalism

​

​

The hostile political climate for journalistic work

Challenges in training and support undermining investigative journalism in Tunisia

Institutional gaps and commercial pressures in the media landscape

Financial structures and the viability of investigative journalism

Non-profit associations

Al Khatt

Speak Out for Freedom of Expression and Creativity

foundations, international non-governmental organizations

Alqatiba Consulting

services: audiovisual production, studio rental, and training programs

InkyLab: ≈ 60% of the outlet’s annual income

Digital services to civil society actors and independent media partners

Collaborative projects with international partners ≈ 20%

The model is particularly vulnerable when it comes to sustaining the high production costs associated with investigative reporting, especially field-based investigations.

inkyfada

Alqatiba

Financial structures and the viability of investigative journalism

The hostile political climate for journalistic work

• The right of of access to information is enshrined in the Constitution and codified by Organic Law No. 22 of 2016, it is no longer effectively implemented. This is largely due to the absence of clear political will to enforce it and the declining performance of the Access to Information Authority, which has become nearly inactive.

• Decree No. 54 of 2022, which ostensibly aims to combat cybercrime and the dissemination of false information. However, it has been widely criticized for its potential to suppress free expression and press freedom

• Tunisia fell from 72nd to 129th place in the 2025 RSF index.

• Tunisia has entered a more authoritarian phase

• Several journalists have been imprisoned or prosecuted under this decree.

• Journalists are often compelled to practice self-censorship ( public media have become government-controlled outlets)

• Decree No. 115 : Tunisian journalists are supposed to be protected and held accountable under this decree. In practice, however, these legal protections are often ignored, and journalists are sometimes punished under other laws, such as Decree 54 or the Anti-Terrorism Act.

• Decisions to shut down online platforms that criticize the political system, or to suspend their activities temporarily, as was the case with Nawaat.

Challenges in training and support undermining investigative journalism in Tunisia

• Disconnect between academic instruction and professional practice

• curriculum has not kept pace with the evolving demands of the field

• limited focus on the practical skills required for field investigations

• Lack of genuine interest among students

2

Institutional gaps and commercial pressures in the media landscape

• Absence of media institutions that provide proper professional training environments

• The largest and most profitable media outlets—both private and public—pay little real attention to developing investigative journalism

• Tunisian media, except Alqatiba and Inkyfada, don’t produce investigative

reports

• Journalists often face censorship or pressure to alter investigations

Dominance of a commercial media model that prioritizes advertiser interests over journalistic quality

These practices align with the “propaganda model”:

Media, driven by profit and advertising revenue, often serve the interests of dominant elites rather than public interest journalism (Herman & Chomsky, 1988).

Conclusion

• Since the 2011 revolution, the journalistic landscape in Tunisia has undergone profound transformations in its functions, roles, and content, aligning more closely with democratic ideals.

​

• In this evolving context, platforms such as Inkyfada and Alqatiba have emerged as key actors in the field of investigative journalism.

​

• Inkyfada and Alqatiba have successfully produced and published high-impact investigative reports on critical issues

​

• the sustainability of these digital initiatives remains precarious

​

• Investigative journalism's absence or marginalization is often seen as a sign of democratic decline. In Tunisia, where this type of reporting emerged during the democratic transition, it remains fragile and on the fringes.