Morocco has gained a spot in the 2022 World Press Freedom Index, which evaluates the conditions under which journalism is practiced in more than 160 countries.
In its new international ranking, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) ranked Morocco at 136th place, up one rank from the previous year, revealing “a rather stable situation,” despite independent media being in a state of precarity, the international institution notes.
Among the criticisms, the RSF listed for Morocco are “the continuous pressure” independent journalists suffer from, and limited sources of information available to the Moroccan population.
“The main source of information for the population comes from social networks and online sites,” said Reporters Without Borders, adding that “society consumes the independent press without being ready to defend it.”
Rampant “disinformation” is also among the RSF’s main concerns for press freedom in Morocco, calling it “a reign accentuated by the promotion of a journalism of buzz and sensationalism that does not respect privacy and degrades the image of women in particular.”
Commenting on the socio-cultural context in Morocco, the ranking also highlights the difficulty of the independent press to survive and have financial stability.
“Journalists are operating in an economically precarious context,” says the report issued with the ranking, explaining that “Moroccan media outlets are unable to attract advertisers, and independent media outlets struggle to have the financial stability to develop.”
Media groups close to the government are “the best off,” according to the ranking, which indicates that “media loyal to the government benefit from more stable business models thanks to more accessible financial resources.”
Finally, RSF reports that in 2020, 110 Moroccan journalists appealed to the National Press Council (CNP), a regulatory authority with the power to sanction organizations that violate the press code, to take “disciplinary action” against “defamatory media outlets.”
In the North African region, Algeria has moved up 12 spot, going from 146th to 134th. Tunisia recorded a 21 spot decline from 73rd to 94th globally, since the anti-democratic turn the country has been grappling with for months.
Libya moved up 22 ranks from 165th to 143rd, thanks to efforts to end the decade-long war and crisis, whereas Mauritania kept the same position in 2022, occupying 97th place in the ranking.
This year, a record number of countries have entered the red zone, which corresponds to a “very serious situation” of the free exercise of the press, as 28 countries are currently in that category.
This year, a record number of countries have entered the red zone, which corresponds to a “very serious situation” of the free exercise of the press, as the category currently accounts for 28 countries.
Twelve countries in total have entered the red zone this year, including Belarus (153rd) and Russia (155th).
Among the most repressive countries for the press, are Burma (176th), North Korea (180th), Eritrea (179th), Iran (178th), Turkmenistan (177th), and China, says RSF.
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