If information and knowledge are central to democracy,
they are the conditions for development. – Kofi Annan
Middle East & North Africa
Morocco
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| IREX Score: 1.78 | [IREX Methodology] |
| {Higher is Better, Score Ranges from 0 to 4.00} |
IREX Description:
The characteristics of the Moroccan media over the course of 2008 remained basically the same as in previous years. Despite their limited circulation, and even though their target audience is the elite, print media broadly affect public opinion and provoke fruitful social discussions in political circles. In particular, independent newspapers appear to be increasing their influence amid the continuing decline of party-controlled media and media that are close to the state.
However, problems persist with political control over the judiciary in trials of independent press companies that criticize state policy. Public broadcast media remain subject to the influence of political power, which has sought to worm its way further into the media in recent times. The Moroccan government has made some moves to open the airwaves to greater private-sector participation. But in one of the most notable developments of early 2009, the government suspended issuance of new television permits just months after opening a competition for permits. Since October 2006, media advocates have been calling for a law to be passed allowing access to information, but the government has not progressed on this issue.
| Freedom House Score: 68 (Not Free) | [Freedom House Methodology] |
| {Lower is Better, Score Ranges from 0 to 100} |
| RSF Score: 47.40 | [RSF Methodology] |
| {Lower is Better, Score Ranges from 0 to ~120} |
Reporters Without Borders Description:
Press freedom appears in the past months to have lost its hard-won ground between the end of the reign of Hassan II and the start of that of Mohammed VI. Certainly, there is an independent press and the number of titles has increased rapidly in recent years, creating a degree of pluralism.
Even if journalists can take criticism further, the “red lines” decreed by the Palace and known to all, cannot be crossed. Religion, the king and the monarchy in general, the country and territorial integrity cannot be questioned. Moreover prison sentences remain under Article 41 of the press law. This vaguely-worded and repressive article is a Sword of Damocles for journalists. Reform of this law has been under debate for the past three years.
| Committee to Protect Journalists Description: | [What is the Committee to Protect Journalists?] |
Top Developments
• Government pressures advertisers, uses courts to punish critical media.
• Authorities obstruct Spanish and other foreign reporters in Western Sahara.
Key Statistic
2: Leading independent weeklies that closed under government pressure. A daily facing harassment moved online.
The government continued using the judiciary to settle scores with critical journalists and pressuring private advertisers to avoid probing publications, two hallmarks of its antagonistic approach to independent and opposition media. The tactics forced two leading independent weeklies to close and a critical daily newspaper to move online.
| IFEX News: | [What is IFEX?] |
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