A joint project between the EBU and its Member Tunisian Television to bring balanced, comprehensive election coverage to Tunisian viewers and voters has been declared a success by both organizations.

The operation saw the EBU and a number of its Members giving Tunisian TV professional guidance, equipment and network capabilities to ensure impartial coverage could be broadcast from all electoral constituencies. Main contributors from among the EBU Membership were France Télévisions, ARD, TRT, RAI, ENTV, BBC, and Deutsche Welle.

The EBU positioned satellite dishes and other network facilities across the entire country to ensure near 100% geographical representation. Under the Ben Ali regime, less than 20% of Tunisian governorates had radio and TV bureaux, because news from outside the capital was disregarded.

After the poll, which ran from October 21 - 23, Tunisian TV Director General, Mokhtar Rassaa, wrote to the EBU, saying: "Thanks to the election coverage we put together with the help of the EBU and its Members for the first democratic election in the Arab region, Tunisia TV and the concept of public service broadcasting have achieved their legitimacy to be part of the future of this country and of the region."                    

In addition, the way the election was reported drew a favourable response from both Tunisian and international media, which had been closely watching events unfold.

Overseeing Tunisian TV's editorial output and the application of an EBU-led journalistic code of ethics, was Ueli Haldimann, former Deputy Director General of German-language Swiss EBU Member, SF.

Mr Haldimann said that on the ground the EBU's work had gone well, but that Tunisian reporters and crews were still hampered by residual fears learned while working under a repressive regime. This, in turn, had had an impact on the quality of the coverage.

"I got the sense that the journalists were overly cautious, and terrified of making mistakes," he said. "This meant there was less proactive investigation than expected, with more focus on filming 'safe' events."

Another complication, according to Mr Haldimann, had been the sheer number of candidates and parties in the election.

He said: "What was missing were the big TV debates. With more than 100 parties and independent lists it was very tricky to organise a truly impartial debate, so in the end they were mostly abandoned. But in a way this is a positive sign, because it was the inability to guarantee impartial coverage that led to journalists to make this decision."

The success of this project marks an important step in the evolution of Tunisian Television from onetime Ben Ali regime mouthpiece to bona fide public service broadcaster.