Najeeba Jellal from the Ministry of Justice Pavilion: The Press Must Choose Between Sensationalism and Responsibility
In the context of the International Book and Publishing Fair, at the Ministry of Justice Pavilion, journalist Najeeba Jellal, editor-in-chief of “Express TV,” sparked a strong discussion about the role of new media in shaping legal and human rights awareness. She spoke directly, bypassing generalizations, to pinpoint the crux of the crisis facing the media today, recalling historical examples that reveal how journalism has sometimes shifted from a counter-power to a tool for extortion and defamation.
Najeeba began with the example of the “Bouvalon” case that shook the French press in the 19th century when the rivalry between journalists turned into a symbolic trial for the entire profession. Newspapers were accused at that time of inciting violence through sensational narratives and crossing ethical and professional boundaries. The writer also recalled Émile Zola’s article in 1879, where he defended actress Sarah Bernhardt against a defamation campaign led by the newspaper “Le Figaro,” asserting that journalism had turned into a “market of noise” and “a tool for destroying dignity.”
Najeeba Jellal linked these historical moments to the state of Moroccan media today, considering that the current crisis is not an exception but an extension of similar struggles faced by the press worldwide. However, she stressed that this does not imply a collapse of the profession, but rather reflects a need for journalism to reassess itself, both legally and ethically, in order to regain its role as a lever for awareness and a bearer of social responsibility.
In her address, Najeeba posed direct questions about the role of journalism today: How significant is its impact on spreading legal and human rights awareness? She answered that a journalist is neither a lawyer nor a judge nor a police chief, but rather the eye that observes, and the conscience that translates complex issues into the language of the people. This role demands deep training and an understanding that words carry responsibility, information is power, and news can make a difference between justice and injustice.
She also criticized what she described as media chaos in cases that impact individuals’ honor and dignity, where law becomes intertwined with interpretation, information with rumor, and investigation with defamation. She pointed to cases where sexual harassment has been conflated with consensual relationships, arguing that some media outlets contributed to reinforcing misleading concepts that undermine the essence of Moroccan laws. She warned against journalists becoming tools for undermining human rights concepts, rather than protecting them.
Najeeba raised concerns related to the rise of digital media, where hashtags turn into public trials issuing verdicts without evidence. However, she acknowledged that the same digital platforms have sometimes served as powerful means to expose violations and break the silence, as seen in the MeToo campaigns and #JusticePourAdil.
Najeeba Jellal did not hesitate to explicitly criticize certain journalistic practices she deemed harmful, whether in publishing images and personal data, transforming into amplifiers of public emotions, or intentionally or unknowingly getting involved in campaigns lacking professionalism that serve agendas contrary to national interests.
In conclusion, she called for the establishment of a media that respects the law, adheres to responsibility, and serves the truth, not trends. She argued that journalism today must protect society from crime rather than justify it, operate with reason rather than sensationalism, and prioritize the dignity of individuals over viewership ratings.
She emphasized that safeguarding the legal and human rights of individuals begins with rigorous training for journalists and recognizing that a mistake in media cannot be fixed with an apology, for just as a doctor’s error may result in a physical death, a journalist’s mistake can kill an entire community.
