L'Essor
| Type | Daily newspaper L'Essor Hébdo Weekly newspaper |
|---|---|
| Owner(s) | AMAP (Agence Malienne de Presse et de Publicité) |
| Editor | Ousma Maïga |
| Founded | 1949 |
| Political alignment | Government |
| Language | French |
| Headquarters | Square Patrice Lumumba BP 141 Bamako |
| Website | www.essor.ml |
L'Essor (fr. Progress) is the state-owned national daily newspaper published in Bamako, Mali. Its motto is "La Voix du Peuple" ("The Voice of the People").
History
L'Essor was first published in 1949, and from 1953 was the official publication of the
Following the 1968 military coup, L'Essor became the organ of the CMLN, Mali's ruling junta.[1] In 1979, as part of the move to civilian governance, the paper was transferred to the unitary political party of the former military rulers, the UDPM. During this period, largely due to better distribution and higher literacy, circulation grew from 12,000 daily (early 1970s) to over 40,000 (late 1980s).[2] Even after the fall of the Socialist government in 1968, the paper continued to carry articles from the Soviet and Chinese wire services, giving it an anti-Western slant. Most domestic writing prior to 1991 focused on local events and government decrees and speeches.[1]
Following the 1991 return to democracy, L'Essor was again transferred, this time to a new government owned printing and distribution house, the Malian Agency for Press and Publicity. While managed by the Malian Ministry of Communications & Information Technology, the AMP and L'Essor retain a high degree of independence from the government.
Operations
L'Essor is one of 15 French language dailies published Mali. Most are printed in Bamako, and L'Essor alone retains a national reach. Its circulation is challenged only by the two largest French language private dailies,
L'Essor also has economic advantages, in that government ministries and state enterprises use its pages for their advertisements, for legal notices, and purchase newspaper subscriptions. On the other hand, it maintains reporters and distribution across the nation, tasks too expensive for private papers. All state printing and broadcast agencies receive government subsidies, and while private publishers an eligible for smaller subsidies, they must be assessed to have met certain financial, labour, bookkeeping, and distribution standards.[5]
As of 2008, L'Essor's Director is Souleymane Drabo and Editor is Ousma Maïga.[6]
References
- ^ ISBN 978-1-009-27122-6.
- ^ Imperato (1986), p. 267
- ^ "Media Sustainability Index (MSI) 2006/7 Mali". IREX. Archived from the original on 2008-12-01.
- ^ "Malian and Senegalese newspapers collaborate on many levels". RAP 21. World Association of Newspapers. 2002. Newsletter n° 57. Archived from the original on 2006-10-19.
- ^ This is under the 1992 article 7 of Decree No. 03- 264 /P-RM. For the wording see MSI Africa 2006-2007: Mali
- ^ "Organisation Record - L'Essor". AfDevInfo. 23 Aug 2007. Archived from the original on May 19, 2012.
- Pascal James Imperato. Historical Dictionary of Mali. Scarecrow Press/ Metuchen. NJ - London (1986) ISBN 0-8108-1369-6
- "L’Essor". Encyclopædia Britannica. 2008.
- Media Sustainability Index (MSI) Africa, 2006-2007[permanent dead link], International Research & Exchanges Board.
- World information UK, Mali guide: Publications & Information Sources[permanent dead link].
- "Mali - Post Report" - e Diplomat, August 16, 2004.
External links
- L'ESSOR : Quotidien National d'Information du Mali www.essor.gov.ml: Official Website.