State, society, and spectrum in Africa

Senegal is a country in West Africa where television has long been a stronghold of the government. The first private television experience began in 2005. The liberalization of the sector was accompanied by the inception of a regulatory body entitled to set requirements and guidelines for television operators. Apart from technical conditions, television networks have the obligation to ensure freedom of information, equal access for politicians, trade unions and civil society organizations, the promotion of public interest as well as the protection of childhood and human rights. The rapid growth of the sector has been accompanied by numerous lawsuits. Defamation, broadcast of false news, infringement on people¿s private lives and several other offenses are rampant, so much so that the national journalists' trade union is advocating for the depenalization of press misdemeanors. This book explores the efficiency of the system established to control the content of television programs and prevent misconduct by network owners and journalists.