The Moroccan Federation of Media boycott El Khalfi

This decision comes after the "discrimination programmed by the Minister of Communication" against it when it is said to be the official representative of the media sector of the General Confederation of Enterprises of Morocco (CGEM), indicates a dispatch from the agency MAP.

The Federation said in a statement that the Communications Minister has not given any date on promises he made to the MFM for including the participation of all professional organizations to address issues of press and Information.

It also regretted that the Minister of Communications has not complied with the commitments arising from meetings in 2011 and 2012 shows that total ignorance towards our Federation at all industry events.

The MFM says it is excluded from all discussions of issues affecting the press sector and information, in particular, the new contract program, and the establishment of a new mode of distribution of grants in accordance with the good governance and equity vis-à-vis pay for the press, free newspapers and electronic media.

In this sense, the Federation calls for the creation of a national survey of justification for broadcasts to replace the current OJD in which it suspends participation, and also confirms its commitment to the establishment of a system of measurement of hearings and readership as was done for radio and television.

 Ministry surprised

For its part, the Ministry of Communication said it was "surprised" by the decision of the Moroccan Federation of Media. Mohamed Belaghouate, director of education and development of the means of communication within the department, said in a statement to MAP that his department "is surprised by this position given that relations with the Federation are good," even more, after a period of stagnation, "since we started a year working with the Federation as an active player in the media field."

Mr. Belaghouate recalled that several meetings were held with the Federatio by the Minister of Communication, as well as ministry officials to examine many of the issues as well as the legal aspect, the grants through a contract program and some outstanding issues relating to members of the MFM and subsidies.

It was agreed at these meetings that there is an injustice to some members of the Federation who do not enjoy the same subsidy as colleagues from other professional organizations, Mr. Belaghouate affirmed.

He added that the principle of the review of the grant was retained as long as the press who feel aggrieved are individually requested to this effect, noting that the department has so far received only two requests and is waiting for all parties, including newspapers that are members of any federation, complete records relating to the holding of the meeting of the bipartisan commission.

The ministry official explained that the subsidy system is based on the contract program signed in 2005 between the Ministry of Communication and the only federation which represented the sector, namely the Moroccan Federation of Newspaper Publishers, adding that this contract program was extended after being evaluated with the participation of all stakeholders and, in view of the development of a new contract program which proceeds from a new vision and according to new criteria.

In this regard, the director of studies and development of communications said that what has been achieved so far is that the draft project of a new contract, finalised only a week ago by the Department of Communication, which works in parallel with the revision of the legal system that governs the media.

Consultations on this project will be launched in the coming days with all stakeholders with the aim of developing a contract based on a final program with a participatory approach, he added.

The MFM includes the Moroccan Association of Regional Press, the Association of Private Radio and the Moroccan Association for Electronic Media.