Morocco media leader calls for restructuring press sector

Idriss Shehtan, President of the National Association of Media and Publishers, has called for a fundamental restructuring of the Moroccan media landscape. Speaking at the association's ordinary general assembly in Casablanca, Shehtan emphasized the need to move beyond a 'logic of survival' toward building a strong, structured, and internationally competitive national press.

Addressing the 247 million dirhams allocated for sector support in the 2027 finance bill, Shehtan argued that public subsidies should transition from mere tools for maintaining jobs and companies to instruments for development, modernization, and investment. He noted a significant organizational gap, stating that while 379 press companies currently benefit from public support, only 59 are structured and part of professional organizations.

Shehtan linked the continuity of public support to the necessity of addressing organizational imbalances and ensuring funds reach institutions that meet professional and economic criteria. He also highlighted discussions regarding the introduction of media activity licenses to better regulate the sector and enhance the credibility of journalism.