The Education, Cultural, and Social Affairs Committee of the House of Councillors experienced a pivotal moment today in the discussion surrounding the draft law for reorganizing the National Press Council. The session was marked by a noticeable spirit of conscious and responsible dialogue, adding a depth to the deliberations that had been missing in previous stages.
In this context, Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication, Mehdi Bensaid, presented a precise and cohesive overview that reflected a remarkable ability to grasp the various aspects of the issue, demonstrating a commendable neutrality that rises above any controversy or polarization. It was clear that the minister did not view the project as a political gamble or a victory for any particular party, but rather as an institutional reform concerning the entire journalistic community.
Bensaid began his intervention by indicating that the Moroccan media landscape is undergoing a qualitative transformation that necessitates the renewal of regulatory and professional oversight tools. He pointed out that some interpretations remain trapped in perceptions prevalent in the 1970s, while digitization has redrawn the boundaries of the profession and its working environments, no longer allowing for ready-made assertions about “control” or “dominance.”
The minister emphasized that the discussion around this project, regardless of its scope, remains healthy and necessary, as the profession encompasses thousands of journalists, each with their own perspectives and roles in this discourse. It is natural, even legitimate, that complete consensus does not arise on every detail. However, the essence of the project, as he clarified, aims to strengthen the profession, improve conditions for those working within it, and ensure that past imbalances are not repeated.
Bensaid also revealed that 80% of the observations put forth by two constitutional institutions had been incorporated, considering this a testament to the government’s respect for the consultation process and its desire to draft a balanced law that reflects the pulse of the profession and the necessities of reform.
He concluded his remarks by asserting that the success of the National Press Council is not a gain for the government or any representative body, but a professional and ethical profit for journalists and the media scene as a whole. The upcoming phase, as he stated, will focus on consolidating professionalism, regulating standards, and enhancing practices in line with Morocco’s aspirations as it approaches 2025 and beyond.
