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Publishing Publications |
 Communication
Development : A "Priority" In Morocco
Morocco's proximity to Europe has
played a major role in the country's ability to not only create and
encourage a more liberal media environment, but also to keep pace with
the technological revolution spreading across the globe as the country
enters the 21st century.
Realizing the importance of communication, the Moroccan government
stressed in March 1999 the "ongoing efforts" to reform the
state-owned press organizations and maintained that communication
development is a national "priority" with a "new,
independent media system" in emergence. The entrance 35-year-old
King Mohammed VI also promises to bring progressively more liberal
changes to the country.
Print media have recently seen a "deep mutation" from
previous years, marked by the renewal and modernization of equipment,
the hiring of young executives and the revamping of articles and
design of the newspapers themselves. The sector has become a
"full-fledged component of the industrial and commercial
fabric" of Morocco, with continuing initiatives to increase
professionalism and advertising in light of the sector's move toward
privatization. The country has also seen an increase in specialized
newspapers, dealing with such things as economic, computer, sport and
women's issues, which have "enriched" newsstands around the
country.
However, observers remain "optimistic about the steady growth of
pluralistic media" in Morocco, others remain concerned about the
highly partisan character of the news itself. About 1780 domestic and
foreign papers, magazines and journals are now in circulation in
Morocco. But while newspapers and weeklies "across the political
spectrum" publish freely, with views ranging from socialist to
nationalist to Islamic, about 80 percent of the papers are highly
politicized with allegiance to 1 of the 14 political parties. Thus, it
is sometimes nearly "impossible to find out what is really
happening unless you read several newspapers".
 Print Media
The nation's official press agency, Maghreb Arab Press, is a
government-owned agency, inaugurated by the late King Mohammed V in
1958. In 1977, it became a state-owned corporation with autonomous
legal and financial status and has since become one of the largest
Arab, African and Islamic news agencies in the world. The agency now
harbors 10 regional offices and 17 international offices in such
cities as Madrid, Paris, London, Washington, DC, Cairo and Moscow. Its
motto remains "News is sacred, comment is free." The
government also owns an Arabic daily and supports two semi-official
dailies, one in French-and the other in Arabic.
The government has traditionally
played a major role in the media sector, providing subsidies to the
rest of the press through price supports for newsprint and office
space. While a 1958 decree grants the government the right to register
domestic papers and journals, the government generally does not
attempt to censor the media and "generally tolerates satirical
and often stinging editorials" in opposition party dailies.
Further, while "The Press Code" empowers the Minister of
Interior to confiscate publications deemed offensive to the government
and allows the Prime Minister to order the indefinite suspension of a
publication, these powers are also rarely enacted.
A number of organizations stand to protect the rights of media workers
throughout the country. The National Union of the Moroccan Press, for
instance, was established in 1963 with the aim of "defending the
profession and the code of ethics" in journalism. The group
receives an annual state subsidy. Other groups include the Press Club,
the Association of the Higher Institute of Journalism Graduates and
the Moroccan Association of Professional Journalists, the latter of
which focuses on the role of women in Moroccan media.
Electronic
Media
Morocco's electronic media sector seems to be at a "turning
point," adapting to fit the global "revolution" of
technological developments. Radio and TV networks now cover a majority
of the country, and the number of radios and TVs has increased
dramatically, with 1 radio per every 3 people and 1 TV per every 6.
Further, the number of satellite dishes has "mushroomed", as
dish antennas have become relatively cheap and permit free access to a
huge variety of foreign programs. The government does not impede
access to foreign broadcasting.
Radio
The government owns the Moroccan Broadcasting Network (RTM), which
broadcasts in Arabic, French, English, Spanish and three dialects,
tarifit, tamazight and tachelhit. With one main station and nine
regional stations, the network is able to access nearly the entire
country.
Medi I is a private station run by a Moroccan company and was
established in 1980 as part of a Moroccan/French partnership. The
station serves as a general bilingual station of international news
and entertainment and can be received in parts of Spain, France and
Italy.
TV
The government owns the only television stations in the country, which
can be received in most areas without the help of decoders or
satellite antennas. In 1996, the country's only private station, 2M,
was purchased by the government when its attempt to bring "pay
service" television to the country failed. In order to save the
station from bankruptcy, the government bought out a 68 percent share
of 2M's stock, but says it plans to resell 2M to the private sector as
the trend toward privatization increases. Moroccan TV programs are
broadcast daily on EUTELSAT 2 and seen by millions around the world.
Morocco's proximity to Europe plays an important role in the Moroccan
economy, as well as its continued move toward commercialization of the
communications industry. Advertising has recently "conquered the
national media space", and the Autonomous Advertisement Service
(SAP) was established to make sure that TV ads remain in line with the
basic goals of the national economy.
 Internet
Morocco boasts one of the largest telecom sectors in Africa. While
most of its operation is currently supervised by the state-owned
National Post and Telecommunications Board, an increased tendency
toward privatization and openness have seen new companies emerge to
challenge its monopoly.
According to residents, the government does not restrict or censor
Internet access. Accounts can be easily obtained from dozens of
private service providers, and citizens can access the unfiltered
World Wide Web from home, the office or cyber-cafes around the
country.
Despite these freedoms, however, the Internet has grown slowly because
of high costs and the lack of a focused national policy to promote its
development. In early 1998, for instance, access costs ranged from US$
40-50/month, which allowed for only 15 hours of service and cost an
additional connection fee of US$ 2/hour. By 1999, the price had
dropped considerably to US$ 20/month for unlimited access, but the
connection fee remained US$ 2/hour.
Future of Moroccan Media
Morocco's "geo-strategic" position is probably one of its
best assets in facing the 21st century, as its close association with
Europe continues to provide a critical link in Moroccan trade and
business, as well as a model of independent communication systems
within the country. A multiparty system and a tradition of tolerance
have also helped to create a more liberal atmosphere for the country's
emerging press corps, which will most likely see continued development
and progress through the next decade. The new king's affinity for new
technologies and emerging entrepreneurs will also add to Moroccan
development.
 Information
and Mass Communication In Morocco
The Ministry of Communications (previously Ministry of Information) elaborates and makes use of the policy of the Government in every field. The Ministry is the spokesman of the Government. The following are the various
departments related to the Ministry of Information:
- The Moroccan radio broadcasting and Television service RTM "Radio and television Marocaine"
Radio Broadcasting:
- 1928: official star under the name of "Radio-Maroc" as a dependent service of the PTT "Poste, Telegraph and Telephone"
- Languages: - Arabic, French, Spanish and English.
- Berber (3 dialects: Tarifit, Tamazight and Tachelhit).
- Main Station: Rabat
- Regional Stations: (9) Tangier,
Casablanca, Laayoun, Marrakesh, Agadir, fez, Oujda, Dakhla and Tetouan.
- Private station: Medi I, established in 1980 and is run by a Moroccan company as part of a Moroccan/French partnership and services as a general bilingual station of international news and entertainment.
Television Broadcasting:
- 1962: Official start of Moroccan TV.
It covers 84 % of the National territory and 95% of the population
- Programs: At the beginning, they are broadcast 6 hours a day during the week and about 8 hours a day during the week-end and holidays. Today, programmes are broadcast daily and can be received in most areas without the help of decoders or satellite antennas. They are broadcast on EUTELSAT 2 and seen by millions around the world.
Private Station : M2, the country's only private station, was purchased by the government in 1996, when its attempt to bring "pay service" television to the country failed.
The TV stations broadcast in Arabic and French languages, in color (SECAM-PAL).
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