"The media landscape in Morocco is undergoing profound changes, which require more than ever having responsible and free media and further dedicating journalistic ethics," is what Mustapha El Khalfi emphasised
The Tangier Press House, the first structure of its kind in the Arab world and Africa, began festivities on Tuesday in Tangier to mark the 1st anniversary of its opening, in the presence of numerous personalities from the Moroccan and foreign political, economic, and media worlds.
In a speech read on his behalf on this occasion, the Minister of Communication, Government Spokesperson, Mustapha El Khalfi, highlighted the role that this complex plays as a place for meetings and exchange for journalists, noting that Morocco has launched several reforms in recent years concerning the information sector, including the new provisions of the 2011 Constitution, which stipulate the principles of freedom of the press and pluralism, and the draft Press and Publishing Code.
In this context, the Minister stressed that the media landscape in Morocco in particular is currently undergoing profound changes, in light of the digital revolution, democratic transition, and demographic evolution, which require today more than ever having responsible and free media and further dedicating journalistic ethics.
He thus considered that the major political, economic, and social changes that several Arab countries are experiencing need to be accompanied by open media that are close to the issues of society, in order to preserve the credibility of the media with public opinion.
For his part, the president of the Tangier Press House, Said Koubrit, stressed the important role that this establishment plays in offering multiple services in terms of training and strengthening the skills of journalists and the integration of Moroccan media into their Arab-Mediterranean space.
He thus indicated that this meeting, held under the theme "Arab media and the time of change", aims to debate the role of the media in the context of the crisis that many Arab countries are going through.
For his part, the Mayor of Tangier, Fouad El Omari, praised the efforts made by this cultural institution for the promotion of values of exchange of experiences and dialogue among journalists, highlighting its effective contribution to accompanying the major economic and social projects that Morocco in general and the city of Tangier in particular are experiencing.
In this context, the official assured that the Tangier Press House plays an important role in strengthening cultural and intellectual values in Morocco, calling for this experience to be replicated in other cities of the Kingdom.
For his part, Khalid Naciri, former Minister of Communication, indicated that the participants in this meeting have a wealth of experience that will allow them to respond to the major problem of the interaction between profound societal mutations and media transformations in a period of historical changes that Arab societies are going through.
"The interaction is reciprocal since the socio-political field and the media domain feed each other," estimated Khalid Naciri, convinced that the men and women of the media field in Morocco, a country of societal, political, and media openness, play an increasingly assertive role in consolidating the brand image of a country of freedom of expression.
The media are capable of addressing the most delicate issues with a spirit of responsibility and openness, he stressed, adding that society, for its part, is evolving in tune with these media transformations.
As for the former Egyptian Minister of Information, Doria Sharaf Al Dine, she made it known that the Egyptian media should currently face several challenges in order to strengthen their credibility with the public and their positive influence on political attitudes.
This event took place in the presence of journalists, intellectuals, and civil society actors.
The Press House also plans to organise other cultural and media activities, as well as training meetings during the months of April, May, June, and August, on the occasion of the first anniversary of its opening.
The celebration programme also includes the organisation, on 16 and 17 April, of sustainable development days on "water, a vital source" in the presence of experts, academics, and journalists, in addition to representatives of centres, institutions, and associations active in the field of the environment.
Added to this is the holding of a meeting, on 24 and 25 April, on "press and cinema", in collaboration with the Moroccan Association of Film Critics, as well as a training session on "social gender" (1, 2, and 3 May), in partnership with the Media Development Centre of Bir Zeit University in Ramallah (Palestine).
Also on the menu is the commemoration of World Press Freedom Day, on 3 May, with a tribute to the experience of Moroccan journalist Abderrafi El Jaouahiri, the organisation of a concert of traditional Moroccan music, and the holding of a training workshop, from 7 to 10 May, in coordination with the Spring Centre for Media Training.
The month of June is not left out as it will be marked by the holding of the first annual meeting with Turkish writers and journalists and a session for the beginner journalist. A media meeting with Moroccan journalists abroad is also planned for August.
