the National Media Council carried out around 8500 inspections of
media facilities and shops throughout the country to ensure that relevant media
standards were being implemented and that the conditions applicable to media
licences were being observed. Adherence to the standards related to the control
and approval of media and advertising content was also checked.
The inspections covered the following technical categories:
Audio-visual, cinema, video games and computer software.
As a result of the inspections, a total of 722 fines were issued to
facilities and shops that were engaged in media activities without a licence or
in breach of the conditions of such licences.
Through its Media Content Follow-Up Administration, the National
Media Council, undertakes monitoring of the implementation of regulations on
media and advertising content in publications and other printed material produced
in the country. It also carries out analytical research in the different areas
of media content, then making the appropriate recommendations.
The special responsibilities of the Council include the study and review of all media
activities, including how they should be organised and carried out, following
up on media content, devising ways of developing electronic media and the laying down of a regulatory framework
covering the Council and the various Media Free Zones in the country.
Among the main services offered by the Media Content Follow-Up
Administration are:
Licencing of technical classifications,
Issuing of licences for
dealing in and distribution of publications
Issuing of licences for the printing of books and other
publications
Issuing of licences for film scripts
Receiving of applications for the issuing of new newspapers and
magazines, together with the first issues
Issuing of licences for the distribution of daily, weekly, monthly,
quarterly and annual newspapers and magazines
Issuing of approvals for the import of media material through the
country's ports, airports and land borders
Carrying out of follow-up and inspection activity
