Agadir 24 | Agadir24
The National Syndicate of the Moroccan Press said that the state of the profession is not satisfactory to either its people or its public, calling for “the urgency of ending the temporary status of the self-regulation mechanism for the profession,” calling for “the approval of supplementary laws to the updated law of the National Press Council before the end of the fall session of Parliament (April 2025).” So that the stakeholders involved in the National Press Council can elect the council’s structures within reasonable deadlines.”
The union said in a statement to its Federal National Council, “The responsibility of the Ministry, which is the guardian of the sector, is fixed in accelerating these workshops, as it is the body that granted a mandate to the Interim Committee for the Press and Publishing Sector to carry out the tasks of the National Press Council for a transitional period.”
The union explained in a statement to the Federal National Council meeting in its second session in the city of Mohammedia, the day before yesterday, Saturday, under the slogan “Continuing the battle to protect the profession and professionals,” in contexts that it says are “characterized by serious declines in the level of union freedoms.”
The Federal National Council of the union said that its meeting comes “while the state of the profession is not pleasing to its people or its public,” adding, “Although the virtue of self-criticism in the sector allows for cruelty to oneself, the extent of the dilution of the sector and the intrusion of outsiders to commit calamities and scandals and attach them to the profession “It has mixed up the cards and implicated the profession in a stigma that does not reflect the extent of the actual responsibility.”
The communication added, “This transient pollution of the profession has led to the audacity to prosecute the profession and professionals for insult and defamation, and this tide has even turned into gangs to intimidate every voice that resists the independence and privacy of the profession, in a continuing effort that takes advantage of an incomprehensible state of disgrace that may lead to a vacuum that allows for the cruel monopolization of public opinion.” “It may end up threatening the media security of our country.”
In the communication, a copy of which was received by Agadir 24, the union called on “the government actor to translate the sector’s priorities, foremost of which is the priority of reforming the national media scene, so that it can contribute to the national effort and confront our country’s opponents, who have moved to the utmost speed in building advanced infrastructure.” “It spares no effort in spreading its poison and disrupting Morocco’s image and its repeated diplomatic victories.”
The Syndicate recalled, with the demand expressed by the Syndicate’s Executive Office, the necessity of updating all the legal arsenal related to the profession, by recalling all the accumulations that have occurred since the adoption of these laws (the Press and Publication Code / the Professional Journalist Law / the updated law of the National Press Council),” the communication adds, “which are Laws whose experience has shown that many of their articles fail to keep pace with the transformations that have occurred in the nature and process of the media, communication and publishing professions.
The union also called for “supporting the capabilities of freedom of the press and expression, as some of the restrictions included in many legislative texts related to the profession, which are characterized by generality, make them susceptible to many interpretations, whether democratic or the opposite, which makes professional media limited to competing in communication spaces.” Social society, which enjoys more doses of freedom, the more fake news and irresponsible expressions thrive in it.”
On the other hand, the union denounced “all manifestations of humiliating treatment of male and female journalists when they enter a group of institutions, which are inconsistent with the requirements of professional fellowship, the customs and rules of the profession, and the responsibilities of public service,” stressing “the necessity of dealing with journalists in a manner befitting their legal, professional, and citizenship status.”
The communication called for “an increase in the wages and compensation of all workers and journalists in media institutions affiliated with the public sector, whether affiliated with the National Radio and Television Company, Channel 2, Radio Medi 1, Medi 1 Thivi, and the Maghreb Arab Press Agency, while improving working conditions and taking into account compensation for occupational hazards.” And about additional tasks associated with exceptional contexts.
The Syndicate called on publishers to “be convinced of the necessity of updating the collective agreement, which has passed for nearly twenty years, to join the process of collective agreements, while updating it in a way that responds to the transformations taking place in the nature of the media and the journalism and publishing professions, which are rapid transformations, in line with technological transformations on the one hand, and with Global human rights accumulations on the other hand »
It also called for “linking public support provided to professional media companies to their respect for signed collective agreements, while expanding them in addition to the digital and print print press sector, the private radio sector, and the production companies sector, to include the freelance journalists sector.”
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**Interview with Mr. Ahmed El-Amin, Media Analyst and Advocate for Press Freedom in Morocco**
**Interviewer:** Thank you for joining us today, Mr. El-Amin. There have been recent developments regarding the draft bill on the National Press Council in Morocco that many view as a threat to independent media. Can you share your insights on this situation?
**Mr. El-Amin:** Thank you for having me. Indeed, the draft bill poses significant challenges to independent media in Morocco. It increases government control over the National Press Council, which undermines the very foundation of a self-regulating press. The National Syndicate of the Moroccan Press has rightly pointed out that the current state of the press is unsatisfactory and calls for urgent reforms.
**Interviewer:** In what ways do you think this bill will affect media freedom in the country?
**Mr. El-Amin:** The bill situates the government as a major player in the selection of council members, which could lead to a composition that favors state narratives over independent journalism. If the media cannot operate autonomously, we risk creating a landscape where dissenting voices are silenced, and the quality of information suffers dramatically. This could spiral into a situation where public opinion is manipulated or monopolized—an alarming prospect for any democratic society.
**Interviewer:** The National Syndicate has emphasized the need for restructuring and legal updates. What specific reforms do you believe are critical at this juncture?
**Mr. El-Amin:** The immediate need is for laws that reflect the current complexities of media and communication. Revisions to the Press and Publication Code, along with the Professional Journalist Law, are essential for enabling journalists to work without fear of prosecution for defamation or insult. Furthermore, it’s crucial to curb overreaching restrictions that can be subjectively interpreted, thus fostering a healthier environment for media discourse.
**Interviewer:** You mentioned the role of the Ministry as a guardian of the sector. What steps should they take to restore confidence in Morocco’s media landscape?
**Mr. El-Amin:** The Ministry must prioritize engagement with journalists, media professionals, and civil society in discussions about these reforms. A transparent approach to restructuring the National Press Council is vital. Furthermore, it should address the current challenges facing journalists, such as harassment and intimidation, by implementing protective measures that uphold press freedoms.
**Interviewer:** what message would you like to send to the Moroccan public regarding these developments?
**Mr. El-Amin:** I urge the public to remain vigilant and advocate for a free press. The media plays a crucial role in democracy by empowering citizens with information and diverse perspectives. Supporting independent journalism helps to ensure that our national discourse is not dominated by a single narrative. We all have a stake in protecting the freedom of the press and ensuring that diverse voices are heard.
**Interviewer:** Thank you, Mr. El-Amin, for your insights on this critical issue facing Morocco’s media landscape.
**Mr. El-Amin:** Thank you for bringing attention to this important topic.
