Mohamed Mehdi Bensaid, Morocco’s Minister of Youth, Culture, and Communication, on Monday, issued veiled criticism of the media policies implemented by previous Justice and Development Party (PJD) governments. He claimed that the “chaos” in Morocco’s media landscape today is a result of those policies. Addressing the PJD parliamentary group, Bensaid said: “If we are to discuss this issue, let us compare the number of media organizations that existed then with those in operation today.”
During a parliamentary session on oral questions, Bensaid responded to PJD MP Fatima Zahra Batta, explaining the government’s intention to foster robust media enterprises. He said, “We aim to establish large media organizations capable of employing specialized journalists across various fields.”
Regarding the new decree on press subsidies, Bensaid highlighted efforts to address challenges facing media companies, noting that previously, subsidies were directed at individual journalists rather than institutions. “Our goal is to review the value of public subsidies allocated to media companies, especially those struggling to compete with larger firms and global digital giants like GAFA (Google, Apple, Facebook, Amazon),” he said.
The minister outlined new eligibility criteria for media organizations seeking government support, including employing at least five journalists and achieving an annual turnover of 2 million dirhams. These measures, he explained, aim to support media outlets that range in size from small teams to those employing dozens of journalists.
Bensaid also proposed a new framework to enhance support for regional and local media through partnerships with regional councils, aligning with Morocco’s advanced regionalization policy.
On the topic of the southern provinces, Bensaid rejected accusations of neglect, emphasizing the government’s commitment to development efforts across all regions of Morocco, including media enterprises. “These are public funds, and we must establish clear standards before allocating them,” he said.
Heritage Protection Efforts
Bensaid also addressed concerns about protecting Morocco’s cultural heritage from appropriation. Referring to a recent meeting of UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage Committee in Paraguay, he highlighted Morocco’s success in opposing the inclusion of the Moroccan caftan in a foreign country’s heritage file. He called the move a violation of UNESCO’s 2003 Convention for the Safeguarding of Intangible Cultural Heritage.
“Thanks to our collective responsibility, we thwarted this attempt,” Bensaid said. He stressed Morocco’s growing stature within UNESCO and its partnerships with other international organizations dedicated to intellectual property and heritage protection.
The minister pointed to ongoing government efforts to institutionalize the “Morocco” brand, a legal framework aimed at safeguarding tangible and intangible heritage. He noted discussions with the World Intellectual Property Organization in Geneva toward signing a memorandum of understanding to enhance cooperation on cultural heritage protection.
Since the current government took office, Morocco has added 13 elements to UNESCO’s Intangible Cultural Heritage list, including the art of Malhoun poetry. The caftan is expected to be listed in 2025, following UNESCO’s biennial nomination process.
The government has also launched public awareness campaigns and initiatives to highlight the value of cultural heritage, including showcasing historical sites, organizing cultural exhibitions like the “Nostalgia” series, and producing videos on social media to celebrate Morocco’s diverse heritage.
Bensaid reaffirmed the government’s commitment to defending Morocco’s cultural identity and combating heritage appropriation, particularly amid ongoing tensions with neighboring Algeria. “Some live in illusions, trying to fill political voids by stealing and claiming others’ heritage,” he said.
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