Violence, Censorship and Freedom of Press: The Moroccan case (Part 4)

In comparison of the today’s situation with that prevailed at the beginning of 2000, it reveals some change considering the respect of the freedom, but this improvement still has its limits. In fact, the liberalization of the Moroccan media landscape in 2005 did lead to the flowering of several private radios, regulated by the High Authority of Audiovisual Communication (HACA). And the Moroccan press has undergone significant changes in terms of the diversity of their specialization and the growth of editorial teams. 

But Free and independent media have suffered - and still suffers from the advertising boycott. While the media near “Makhzen” benefit from the advertising revenue of the regime and its allies.  Published since 2006, with 20,000 copies sold, the magazine “Nichane” wasn’t censored but forced into bankruptcy. "This closure (...) is an updated and programmed slow death, it’s the result of an advertising boycott initiated including the first circle of power," said Ahmed Benchemsi, editor, in a statement. Crushed by debt, the Tel Quel group, the main shareholder of the magazine, decided to cease publication of the weekly.

For Mr. Ahmed Hidass, professor in ISIC and expert in Media Law, Freedom of Speech, and Media Regulation,” Electronic media are the media of the future because the business model of online media is less restrictive than the print media. Especially that it’s cheaper and more convenient for advertising.” But, for him, “Most of the Moroccan newsrooms are in door newsrooms that don’t usually employ special envoy and permanent/ foreign correspondent”. 

Moroccan media, all types include, are still mainstream media, even more there are only few local media. In fact, an auditing firm has made ​​a report to the Ministry of Communication about the progress of the situation of the freedom of the press. Among the obstacles regarding the printing press, it listed the distribution of newspapers in the territory that is still very limited. In fact, for the newspapers’ distribution networks, the firm listed as much as 1000 points of sale, including kiosks and small stores. Also, the professionalization of the sector recorded a very low level for all types of media companies. Furthermore, the loosing of reader’s interest in reading newspapers is also a significant obstacle. 

Last year, on January 18, a parliamentary accused of rape, sentenced in first instance to a year in prison, was acquitted on appeal while the victim was jailed for contempt of court. It lasts for three years; the trial was finally unnoticed until a blogger report the information and protests against this verdict. When there is no result in political or court scandals that are covered by the media, through the redundancy effect carried by a multitude of similar cases, it seems to be that the reader is disillusioned by the impunity of the person in charge. In fact, in Morocco, scandals do not rise to media coverage. It’s explains the fact that there's no renewed buying newspapers. But, talking about court cases, Mr. Hidass hinted at Anouzla’s case for explaining that “the media don’t have enough information to tell”.