Morocco Takes a Significant Step Towards Self-Regulation of Journalism with New Law Proposal
Mouad Benssaid, the Minister of Culture, Youth, and Sports, presented to the House of Representatives Law Project No. 026.25 aimed at reorganizing the National Press Council. The minister emphasized that this project represents a crucial milestone in modernizing the media landscape and enhancing principles of transparency and good governance, confirming that it followed serious and responsible discussions within the Education, Culture, and Communication Committee, which approved it.
Ben Said clarified that the project is not merely a new legal text but a true translation of the principle of self-regulation of journalism, intended to ensure its independence and ethics, aligning with Article 28 of the Constitution, which asserts that the organization of the journalism profession must be based on democratic foundations. He noted that the previous experience of the National Press Council revealed legal gaps and demands from professionals to develop the text, prompting the government to form a temporary committee that worked for two years to assess the realities of the journalism and publishing sector and draft a comprehensive vision for the press code with the participation of all professional bodies.
The minister further explained that the project strengthens a delicate balance between press freedom and the necessity of respecting the rules and ethics of the profession. Freedom cannot exist without responsibility, and responsibility should not constrain freedom. This balance, he argued, is essential for building a strong media capable of expressing the pulse of society and contributing to meaningful public discourse.
The new law includes significant reforms, such as creating an independent supervisory committee to manage the electoral process for journalists and publishers, and developing a new voting system based on the requests of professionals, aimed at ensuring the council’s independence from the executive authority. These reforms come in recognition of the widespread chaos and unethical practices in the media sector, as well as the challenges posed by fake news that have worsened with the growth of social media platforms.
Ben Said confirmed that the government does not favor any political party or entity, and its sole aim is to enhance press freedom and independence by establishing a National Press Council to manage the affairs of the profession autonomously. He also praised the intensive community discussions that accompanied the project’s preparation, affirming that the differences in opinions contributed to producing a text suited to the national media reality.
This project marks the beginning of a new phase in gradual self-regulation of journalism, transitioning from joint regulation to complete self-regulation, thereby enhancing the role of media as a key component in the framework of democracy and freedom of expression.
