فاس نيوز ميديا جريدة الكترونية جهوية تعنى بشؤون و أخبار جهة فاس مكناس – متجددة على مدار الساعة
In a significant move to defend the rights of sports journalists in Morocco, the National Coordination of Sports Press Associations was established following a meeting on Tuesday, November 19, 2024, at the African Union of Sports Press headquarters in Casablanca.
The coordination was formed in response to the continued escalation by the National Association of Media and Publishers, which sports journalists’ associations have accused of attempting to impose control over media practices within Moroccan stadiums, as well as disrespecting journalists through defamatory statements that undermine their honor and professionalism.
The formation of the coordination comes after several attempts to address the issue, including a joint statement issued on November 5, 2024, and a letter sent to the President of the National Professional Football League on October 28, 2024, regarding the dangers posed by these actions. Despite these efforts, the situation remained unchanged, prompting media associations to take a unified stance against what they describe as a threat to the independence of sports journalism in the country.
The meeting brought together several associations, including the Moroccan Sports Press Association, the Moroccan Sports Journalists League, the Moroccan Union of Sports Journalists, the Moroccan Association of Sports Media, and the Moroccan Sports Photographers Association. Together, they decided to establish the coordination to counter any attempts to undermine journalistic professionalism, whether through unauthorized control over journalists’ access to stadiums or through violations of their legitimate rights to practice their profession freely and with dignity.
In a broader context, the coordination emphasized in its statement its rejection of the indifference of relevant institutions, including the Ministry of National Education, Preschool Education and Sports, and the Ministry of Youth, Culture and Communication, to what it described as unethical practices carried out by the National Association of Media and Publishers. The coordination considers it a serious threat to media freedom and independence that this relatively new association is allowed to control journalists’ access to stadiums.
The coordination also clarified that all accredited sports journalists, holding a legally recognized professional press card, should be allowed to enter stadiums without obstruction. It warned that any attempt to prevent journalists from performing their duties should be done legally and through a judicial decision, not by an unauthorized body like the National Association of Media and Publishers.
In a step of escalation, the coordination announced it would wear black armbands in stadiums starting this weekend in protest against the actions of the President of the National Professional Football League, which it believes is fueling the current crisis between sports journalists and the association. Additionally, the coordination decided to create a monitoring cell to document any harassment that journalists may face when entering stadiums, with court officers assigned to follow up on cases in different cities across Morocco.
At the same time, the coordination stressed the importance of media plurality within the framework of legal respect, reaffirming that pluralism is a constitutional right that cannot be infringed upon. Any violation of this right, it stated, constitutes a breach of journalists’ rights and freedom, signaling attempts to diminish the role of sports media as the fourth estate and an independent institution.
The coordination also reminded that government bodies, such as the Ministry of the Interior and the Royal Moroccan Football Federation, bear responsibility for urgently addressing these issues, particularly by clarifying the powers granted to the National Association of Media and Publishers regarding journalists’ access to stadiums. The coordination called for decisive action by companies and sports associations against behaviors that could harm the future of sports journalism in Morocco.
In conclusion, the coordination emphasized its commitment to closely monitoring the situation and will take further escalating actions if the unfair treatment of sports journalists continues.
source : fesnews media
