On Friday, January 31, 2025, the Executive Bureau of the Moroccan Federation of Newspaper Publishers held its regular meeting in Casablanca, where it discussed developments in the media sector and the challenges facing media companies. The meeting also addressed the Federation’s work programs in light of the ongoing transformations in the national media landscape.
The Federation expressed deep concern over the government’s and the Ministry of Communication’s unilateral decision-making regarding public support, accusing them of excluding professional organizations from any meaningful consultation. The Federation highlighted that it, despite its pivotal role in signing the first government program contract, leading the National Press Council elections, and its long-standing partnership in reform and development programs, was also excluded from the process.
The Federation criticized the government decree that set the number of professional cards as a condition for benefiting from public support, arguing that this was unfair to electronic, regional, and weekly press outlets. It also criticized the challenging conditions placed on press printers, which led to the exclusion of most of them. The Federation condemned the decline in publishers’ representation on the support committee and the imposition of a one-sided vision within it.
Moreover, the Federation pointed out that the joint ministerial decision introduced additional criteria, including the determination of business turnover as a condition for support. This shift, it argued, turned the support mechanism from one meant to assist media companies into a form of capital support, undermining media pluralism and excluding regional press and small and medium enterprises, without considering the economic repercussions of the pandemic and imbalances in the advertising market.
The Federation warned that these measures could silence essential national media voices, particularly in the southern provinces and other regions of Morocco. It cautioned that this could harm national interests, especially at a time when strengthening the media front is crucial to address current challenges. The Federation also expressed concerns about the upcoming regional support, fearing it could be used for electoral manipulation or discriminatory practices that threaten fairness among media companies.
The Federation reiterated its opposition to the interim committee managing the National Press Council, which it argued was appointed by the government in violation of the constitutional principle of self-regulation. It noted the approaching end of the committee’s term without any indication of plans to organize elections that comply with constitutional requirements, and no discussions regarding the future of the institution.
The Federation emphasized that support for the media should not be limited to public funding or issues related to professional cards. It called for comprehensive reforms, including the development of laws to enhance press freedom in a democratic and human rights-based framework, improving training and ongoing education to keep up with rapid sector transformations, supporting content quality, and strengthening professional ethics. It also called for measures to combat defamation, extortion, and fake news, the regulation of the advertising sector to ensure fair and transparent revenue distribution, and practical solutions to the distribution of printed newspapers to ensure the sustainability of print journalism. Furthermore, it advocated for a new collective agreement that balances the improvement of journalists’ working conditions with the sustainability of media companies.
The Federation expressed its deep concern over the unprecedented fragmentation within the professional relationships in the sector, recognizing that this situation hampers reform and development efforts. Therefore, it called on all publishers of both print and electronic newspapers to unite or, at the very least, coordinate their positions to formulate a shared vision for the future of the sector. It also urged journalistic unions to overcome minor disputes and engage in responsible dialogue to map out a clear path for the future of national media.
In this context, the Federation announced its readiness to organize a major national conference to discuss the state of the profession, bringing together all stakeholders to build a national consensus that ensures media independence and strengthens its role in serving society.
source : fesnews media