Tunisia: Jaridaty, the first social network dedicated to citizen journalism, to be launched

This project forms part of CFI's programme for providing support to the Tunisian media during the country's transition to democracy.

CFI has spent almost two years working with Nawaat on the Jaridaty project, which aims to set up and develop citizen journalism associations in 11 towns and cities in Tunisia (Bizerte, Makthar, Kebili, Kasserine, Sidi Bouzid, El Krib, Oueslatia, Medenine, Djerba, Tozeur and Tataouine).
The project's ultimate aim is to foster the development of a culture of local and participatory democracy amongst young Tunisians.

Several experts from CFI have been sent to train the leaders of these associations

Two experts gave a two-week training course in Tozeur in December 2012, and several further courses were held between May and July 2013 in a bid to strengthen the foundations of each newly created association.
One final training course (which began on 3 September and will finish on 14 September) is currently being given in Bizerte to around twenty leaders and bloggers from all the various associations scattered across the country.

The online platform www.jaridaty.net, which is intended for associations and the general public, will be officially launched on 12 September at Bizerte Youth Centre, with the Tunisian Youth and Sports Minister, one of the partners of the project, in attendance.
The platform is intended to consolidate all published content into one central system, while enabling every member to maintain their own interface.
It is designed as a social network, in which everyone can access content, exchange ideas on a forum and consult Nawaat's guidelines.