The Provisional Commission for the management of the affairs of the press and publishing sector recently held its general assembly in ordinary session to discuss and validate measures aimed at strengthening the journalistic profession in Morocco. This meeting made it possible to finalize several strategic decisions, ranging from the continuing training of journalists to media education for the general public, with the aim of adapting the sector to the challenges of digital technology and promoting quality journalism.
The Commission’s first decision is the relaunch of continuing education programs, which had previously been successfully implemented by the National Press Council. These workshops, intended for journalists across the Kingdom, will now take place in certain designated cities, in the presence of Moroccan and foreign experts. These sessions will allow journalists to deepen their skills in journalistic ethics and new technologies, as well as to train in technical areas specific to the profession. Publication directors will be asked to select participants, in order to strengthen the coverage of events by journalists trained in best professional practices.
At the same time, the Commission will organize meetings dedicated to current issues in the press sector, in particular journalistic ethics and the economic challenges that press companies face. These debates will extend to issues of access to the profession and training, both initial and continuing, and will welcome a variety of participants: journalists, publication directors, academics, intellectuals and representatives of civil society. These exchanges aim to create a constructive dynamic between the different players in the sector for a stronger and more resilient Moroccan press.
Faced with the growing risks linked to the digital environment, the Commission also approved a media education plan to raise public awareness, in particular young people, of responsible and conscious use of digital media. This initiative, inspired by international practices, responds to the need to strengthen the capacities of citizens so that they can operate in the digital world in complete security, far from excesses and illicit content. This program targets in particular children and young people, who are particularly exposed, and will mobilize partnerships with various official and unofficial actors capable of contributing to this mission.
The Commission proposes to revitalize interest in the written press, a medium which continues to occupy an important place in many countries despite the rise in power of the digital press. The cessation of sales of paper newspapers during the Covid-19 pandemic weakened the sector, but the Commission remains convinced that support policies, inspired by international best practices, can revive this sector. The objective is to encourage readers to rediscover the richness of the written press, in addition to the information accessible online.
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