Financial problems undermine press companies, TV magazine

Morocco is lagging behind in terms of newspapers production, and journalists are far underpaid, according to a TV weekly program aired Wednesday evening by national TV "TVM."

EchoEco said the circulation rate in Morocco is six times less than the international average, as the sales of the twenty Moroccan dailies existing on the market barely exceed 350,000 per day, while in Algeria they reach 500,000 for only one newspaper, and exceed a million issues per paper in Egypt.

As to salaries, EchoEco said the majority of Moroccan journalists are underpaid since some of them receive a measly salary not exceeding USD 120, while they should normally get between USD 1,100 and 1,700.

Most press companies face serious financial problems, according to the TV report which notes that 90% of the MAD 50m (about USD 5.9m) subsidy that the government will allocate to press companies will be used to buy paper.

The only concern for these companies, deplored Echoeco, is to remain afloat rather than achieve financial gains.