King Mohammed wants competitive press for Morocco
Morocco, Politics, 11/18/2002

Morocco's King Mohammed VI on Friday stressed the need for Morocco to have a competitive press, able to cope with the challenges of the new millennium.

"It is a fact that the new millennium has brought about other challenges as a result of a globalised satellite coverage and of increasingly generalized access to the resources made available by the Information and Communication society. However, it is impossible for our media to cope with these challenges, unless it reconsiders its working methods, gets the relevant legislation adopted and secures the necessary tools and resources," said King Mohammed VI in a message read out on his behalf on the occasion of the National Press Day.

The message was read out by Royal Advisor, Abdelaziz Meziane Belfkih, during an Iftar function hosted by King Mohammed VI in honor of Moroccan journalists and foreign correspondents in Morocco.

The king recalled that he put the Royal Seal on the Decree establishing the High Audiovisual Communication Authority. "This step, along with the lifting of the state monopoly in this sector, marks the beginning of a large-scale audio-visual media reform nationwide," he said.

"As for newspapers and magazines, although they are basically the responsibility of the private sector, they still need state help and support, said the king, who called on the Government to initiate a study, in consultation with the relevant professional organizations, to see what steps may be taken to bring the press in this country to such a level of development and professionalism as will enable it to fully play its role in the building of a democratic society," said King Mohammed VI.

The study should focus on updating the government scheme subsidizing the press. It should also look into the ways and means to encourage and stimulate investment in the sector, and see how to contribute to the emergence of high-standard press on a regional scale, he added.

The king lauded the role played by the media in the consolidation of Morocco's democratic project. "As media professionals you have an outstanding part to play in the accomplishment of this project, just like the state and all those who play a role in public life," he said.

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