Introduction
The media system is highly controlled by the State since 1962, date of the beginning of the Republic, through the state-owned Yemen General Corporation for Radio and Television (YGCRT). Yemen’s Ministry of Information influences the media through its control of printing press, granting of newspaper subsidies and ownership of the country’s only television and radio stations. Until 2014 there were nine government-controlled media, 50 independent and 30 party-affiliated newspapers. There are approximately 90 magazines, 50 of which are private, 30 percent government controlled, and 20 percent party affiliated.
The media outlets in Aden are much smaller than in Sana’a and mainly cater to a Southern audience. Consequently, they are marginalised in terms of influence in the national media scene. At the same time they felt and still feel pressured by both the government and the opposition even if they wish to remain independent.
However, satellite pan-arab channels like Al-Jazeera and Al-Arabiya are the most popular channels and source of information about events in Yemen and the wider world beyond. Other satellite channels became very popular after 2011 and the protests against President Ali Abdulalh Saleh: These are the London-based Suhail TV and the Cairo-based Al-Sa’idah.