A Survey On Written Press In Morocco

A Survey on Written Press in Morocco

By Zakaria RMIDI

2

OUTLINE Introduction: National Press : Statistics & Key Figures

▪ Specialty▪ Periodicity▪ Language ▪ Regional Press▪ Electronic Press

Media Corporations: International Press in Morocco: Credentialled

Press Conclusion

Zakaria RMIDI - MA.MAS 2009/10 - FLSH Ben M'sik

3

Introduction

The last report published by the ministry of communication on the status of written press and public audiovisual communication in Morocco shows that until December 31, 2006 the number of publications was 398 titles, compared to 468 titles in 2005.


4

National Press

- the number of publications in 2005

was 468 titles.

- 260 titles in Arabic- 151 titles in French

- 6 titles in the Amazigh language

- 1 title in Spanish

- The number of publications in 2006

was 398 titles.

- 283 titles in Arabic- 107 titles in French

- 9 titles in the Amazigh language


5

Statistics & Key Figures


28271%

10727%

92%

Arabic

French

Amazigh

2006

28064%

15134%

10%

61%

Arabic

French

Spanish

Amazigh

2005

6

Outcome The number of the titles appearing in Arabic increased by

7 %.

The number of the titles appearing in French decreased by 8%.

The Spanish-speaking “La Mañana” stopped being published.

in May 2007, a weekly English-speaking “The Casablanca Analyst” was launched and stopped in May 2008 after 5 issues.


7

Outcome (2)

The number of the titles appearing in the Amazigh language increased by 9%.

“Tamazight” a weekly newspaper in the Amazigh language that was launched in 1991 in Rabat to defend the Amazigh culture.

“Alhawia” a weekly in the Amazigh language that is interested in the problems of teaching Amazigh in Morocco.

“Twiza” a monthly in the Amazigh language, French and Arabic published in the city of Ennadour to promote the Amazigh culture.


8

National Press: Specialty (1)


12331%

7419%

215%

113%

21%

10%

21%

154%

246%

246%

31%

41%

113%

82%

51%

31%

41%

82%

51%

31%

21%

51% 4

1%297%

General InformationRegional InformationPartisan Legal publicationsHuman RightsProfessional AssociativeSportCultureEconomyAgricultureAccidents AdvertizingArtswomeneducationFinanceParliamentaryFamilyNew TechnologyYouthImmigrationNatureOthers

9

National Press: Specialty (2)

With the organs of the political parties, the newspapers of general information and the regional titles represent a considerable number in the press market.

However, in spite of the decrease in terms of the number of newspapers and magazines, new titles have come into the market specialized in various fields such as economy, advertising,

culture, women, sport, art, Moroccans residents abroad, human rights… etc.


10

Periodicity (1)


Daily

Wee

kly

bim

onth

ly

Mon

thly

sem

estri

al

Bian

nual

Perio

dic

Annu

al

Irreg

ular

0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200Number of Titles

Periodicity

11

Periodicity in Terms of Language


Periodicity Arabic French Amazigh Total

daily 14 06 - 20

weekly 61 27 02 90

bimonthly 22 10 01 33

Monthly 144 43 05 192

Semestrial 18 11 01 30

Biannual 01 04 - 05

Periodical 04 03 - 07

Annual - 02 - 02

Irregular 18 01 - 19

Total 282 107 09 398

Zakaria RMIDI - MA.MAS 2009/10 - FLSH Ben M'sik 12

Outcome

Monthly publications are the most important in terms of number (192 titles), followed by weekly publications (90 titles).

Monthly and weekly publications represent more than two thirds of the entire Moroccan publications.


Regional Press

Until December 31, 2006 regional press was represented by 67 titles, most of which edited by particulars or private media corporations.

Most of these publications are interested in local information at a regional level.

They lack qualified human resources. They have problems at the level of printing

and distribution. Inadequate income from advertizing.


Electronic Press (1)

The development of the Internet has brought a new dimension to the field of press. Many publications can now be accessed on their own web sites. However, in spite of this dynamism and the dramatical increase of internet users in Morocco, electronic press as a field which stands on its own didn’t know any significant progress and the number of regular electronic newspapers do not exceed 6 due to a number of considerations. ▪ This kind of press is relatively new and it is still in its constitutive

stage.▪ The absence of a law which organizes electronic press in Morocco


Electronic Press (2)

Titles Number of Journalists

Bulletin du Syndicat National de la Presse Marocaine

01

E-Marrakech Info 01

Assiyassa Al Jadida 09

Menara Casanet 10

Maghreb Arts 01

Adrar 01

Total 23

16

Media Corporations

Moroccan press is edited by several actors, of which private corporations represent more than 60%. Other editors are as follow:

▪ Political parties; ▪ Trade unions; ▪ Companies; ▪ Associations; ▪ Individuals;▪ public institutions;


17

Eco-Média


Eco-Média is a private media corporation that was founded in 1991. Two of its main publications are: The daily Frensch-speaking “L’Economist” specialzed in economics and politics. The daily Arabic-speaking “Assabah” that is considered the second newspaper in terms of readership. It covers general information (social, politic, sport…etc). Eco-Média also own two monthly magazines “Majalat Assabah” and “L’Economiste Magazine”, in addition to “Radio Atlantic” and an institute of journalism and communication in Casablanca (ESJC)

18

Success Publications


A Moroccan press corporation founded in 1995 specialized in economics. It edits 5 publications:1. “Économie & Entreprises” : a monthly magazine specialized in economics.2. “Essor” : considered as the first monthly magazine specialzed in

management. It is dedicated mainly to companies’ managers in Morocco.3. “Art de vivre” : a monthly magazine specialzed in life styles and luxury.4. “Les 500” : an annual magazine that ranks top 500 companies in Morocco.5. “I Conférences” : an annual magazine specialzed in organizing conferences.

19

Presse Directe SA


Presse Directe is the publisher of two weekly magazines:

“Telquel”: a weekly magazine in French.

“Nichane”: a weekly magazine in Arabic and Darija.

The two magazines are concidered to be private editorial line, independent and often critical towards the government.

As a publishing company, Press Direct is under the contol of another corporation called Free Media.

20

Almassae Média Groupe


It was in 2006 When the daily Arabic-speaking “Almassae” was founded from an initiative by Taoufik Bouachrine, Samir Chawki and Rachid Niny.

In 2007 the groupe signed a partnership with “Monde Diplomatique” through which an Arabic version of this magazine started to be published.

In 2008 “Almassae” launched its French version “Le Soir”, which is now under the ownership of «NextDayNews »

Now, the groupe has mainly one Arabic newspaper “Almassae” in addition to two magazines “Nejma” and “Majalat Almassae”.

21

Groupe Maroc Soir


Groupe Maroc Soir is media publishing company based in Casablanca. The group chairman and owner is Othman Al Omeir, a former businessman from Saudi Arabia, and editor-in-chief of “Asharq Alawsat”.

It Owns Official and semi-official organs of the government, notabely the daily “Le Matin” and “Almaghribia”, in addition to a number of websites.

22

Groupe Caractères


Groupe Caractères is a press company that was founded in 1996. It is a subsidiary company of Akwa Groupe. It edits 3 monthly magazines:

“Femme du Maroc” “Nissae Mina Almaghrib” “Maison du Maroc” the weekly French-speaking “La Vie Eco”.

23

Devocean


Devocean: a media corporation that was founded in 1999. It is specialzed in the field of Information technology and the development of softwares. It also support companies to develop their own websites. It edits 4 main publications which are distributed for free:

“Au Fait” : a daily French-speaking distributed for free in Tangier, casablanca, Fez, rabat, Salé and Marrakech. “Madinati”: a Bimonthly magazine in French. “Sport Hebdo”: a monthly magazine in French specialized in sport. “Plurielles”: a monthly magazine in French dedicated to woman.

24

Editions Lilas

A press corporation founded by Abdellatif Khizrane and Aziz Filali. The first magazine launched by this corporation was “Le Caducée” in Septembre 1995. It was monthly French-speaking dedicated to pharmacists. On September 28, 1996 the company launched “La Citadine”, a monthly magazine specialized in women, then after few days a new monthly magazine specialized in medical sciences and health was launched under the name of “Cahiers du Medecin”.


25

L’ Entreprise Maghrebine de Media


An anonymous company made of twenty participants; each has no more than ten shares. It owns mainly one newspaper and magazine: “Al-Ahdath Al-Maghribia” whose first issue was launched on October 22, 1998, to became at the top of Moroccan newspapers in terms of readership in 2000 and 2001. “Akhbar Annoujoum” a monthly magazine dedicated to Moroccan artists.

26

Les Editions de La Gazette


Founded in 1997 by Kamal Lahlou, one of the big businessmens in the field of press and advertising and the President of the Moroccan Media federation (FMM).

Les Editions de la Gazette owns four magazines: “La gazette du Maroc”: a weekly french-speaking magazine that covers general information from politics to sport. “Challenge Hebdo”: a weekly Frensh-speaking magazine specialized in economy. “Lalla Fatima”: a monthly magazine in Arabic dedicated to women. “Version Homme”: a monthly magazine in French dedicated to man and specialized mainly in life style.

Les Editions de la Gazette also owns Radio Casa FM and other radio stations.

27

Political PartiesAlistiqlal owns two newspaper: “Alalam”: Arabic daily founded in September 11, 1946 and considered to be the first Moroccan daily in Arabic.“L’Opinion”: a daily in French founded in 1965.

PPS owns two dailies: “Albayane”: daily French-speaking , founded in 1971. “Bayane Alyaoum”: an a daily in Arabic founded in 1991.

USFP owns two dailies: “Liberation”: a daily Frensh-speaking founded in 1964. “Al Ittihad Al Ichtiraki”: a daily Arabic-speaking founded in 1981.


28

International Press in Morocco (1)

Until 2006 there were 134 credentialled journalist in Morocco, who represent 90 organs of press and communication: 14 news agencies. 9 agencies of photography. 27 TV channels. 9 radios. 37 newspapers.


29


The geographical belonging of these press agencies is as follow:

3 Maghrebeans 3 from the Middle East 10 European 2 Asiatic 1 American


30


Concerning International written press in Morocco, 13 credentialled newspapers and magazines are European and 24 titles are from the Middle East.

All these organs of press and communication use different languages of which Arabic is the first, followed by French, English,

Russian, Chinese, Italian, German then Holland


31

Conclusion

Like other sectors in Morocco, the sector of press is under reforms in the light of the project called “Le Contrat-programme”. The project aims at promoting and modernizing press business in Morocco and many actors take part in it: The ministry of communication, the ministry of economy and finance, press unions and media corporations.



References

“Rapport annuel sur l’état de la presse écrite et la communication audiovisuelle publique 2006”

المغـرب في واإلعالم الصحافة حرية حول السنوي 2008ماي 3التقريرhttp://www.mincom.gov.ma/MinCom/Fr/MenuGauche/s+orienter/

www.ojd.ma www.snpm.ma www.haca.ma www.sapress.ma

http://www.mincom.gov.ma/MinCom/Fr/MenuGauche/s+orienter/

http://www.mincom.gov.ma/MinCom/Fr/MenuGauche/s+orienter/

http://www.ojd.ma/

http://www.snpm.ma/

http://www.haca.ma/

http://www.sapress.ma/

Education

A Survey On Written Press In Morocco