Online journalists plan new labour union in Morocco
2009-02-10
Members of Morocco's electronic press hope to establish their own national syndicate, but the existing journalists' union sees no need for online reporters to set up a separate entity.
By Naoufel Cherkaoui for Magharebia in Rabat – 10/02/09
 [Naoufel Cherkaoui] Online journalist Abdallah Saoura is leading a movement to organise a union for members of the Moroccan e-press. |
Moroccan online journalists are organising a new labour union to regulate their work and advocate for their rights and freedoms. A committee is now planning a national conference for online journalists, bloggers and "e-writers" to launch a new umbrella entity, the National Moroccan E-press Syndicate.
"The objective of establishing a new syndicate is the fact that e-press comprises a new and significant generation of young journalists who rely on a new mechanism – in the absence of a legal framework – that ensures their financial rights and recognition," Abdallah Saoura, the national co-ordinator of the preparatory committee, told Magharebia on Monday (January 9th).
Like their counterparts in print, TV and radio, e-journalists have to endure the difficulties of working in the Moroccan media sector. Since theirs is a novel niche, however, e-journalists have to surmount even greater hurdles.
Given that many e-journalists are volunteers, the lack of adequate finances is one of those extra difficulties. The absence of any state-approved legitimacy is another.
"Our biggest problem as e-journalists," Saoura said, "is the lack of a legal capacity, which hinders us from getting the news because authorities hardly trust us". Even though the electronic press has exploded in Morocco, online writers are often perceived as unprofessional renegades by the traditional media.
A significant change, however, is already under way. According to the e-press, mainstream journalists just have to catch up.
Like many people around the globe, Moroccans are becoming more dependent on online journalism for news and information. "E-journalists take news reporting to the next level, thanks to their speed and diverse geographic locations," Souara noted. "Nowadays, we get to see coverage of news that takes place in distant areas."
Morocco already has a National Moroccan Press Syndicate (SNPM). Technically, any journalist can join. Many e-journalists, however, do not feel that the syndicate represents them.
"All the journalists who requested to join the new syndicate, some of whom are already members of the existing SNPM, talk about the lack of harmony between SNPM and the e-press because of some political agendas," Saoura explained, adding that the SNPM does not actively recruit journalists.
SNPM chief Mohamed Eddaou Siraj disputes these assertions and questions the need for online writers to establish their own union. His syndicate is open to new journalists, he said, emphasizing the fact that the SNPM already has a special division for the e-press.
The "right to establish a syndicate is ensured by the law", Siraj said. He added, however, that "those seeking to establish a new syndicate either have no idea about the whole thing or are not related to the SNPM".
Given the independent nature of online journalism, it is not surprising that this group of online reporters wants to set its own agenda and policy framework. More than 100 journalists have already signed up for membership in the new syndicate.
"As e-journalists, we are hoping for a wider scale of freedom," said Nour Eddin Lash-hab, a reporter for news website Hespress.
"We want to be recognised as journalists who have managed, in a short time, to become reliable sources of news for many Moroccans," Lash-hab added.
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Bachir Niah Posted 2009-02-11
It is a very good idea. Can anyone give me the contact of Mr. Naoufel Cherkaoui. I would like to join the new union. Bachir Niah Web journalist Morocco Business News
acharif moulay abdellah bouskraoui Posted 2009-02-11
“An Open Letter from Acharif Moulay Abdellah to the Journalists: an Email by Acharif Moulay Abdellah” – May praise be to God alone and prayers and respects for the Prophet, His family and His companions – Dear Moroccans, in this letter I invite you to be soldiers in the disposition of your country. Every Moroccan plays an important role in the development of his country. And, as you know, each of us has a young and dynamic king who gives his very best for our country and who has put Morocco on the right track to democracy, justice and human rights. Dear Moroccans, your country’s development concerns all of you, wherever you may be. Therefore, I invite you also to encourage tourists and investors to come to Morocco, because we are a safe country. And, we could lend ourselves to administrative services, making all our commodities available to our investors. Dear Moroccans, defend Morocco wherever you may be! Be the voice of your country! Be proud of our King, Mohammed VI, the father of our nation, just as you were proud of our saintly King, Hassan II. Dear Moroccans, defend the integrity of our territory. As everyone knows, the Sahara was, is and will always be Moroccan. Morocco and Algeria will always remain neighbouring, brother countries. I am sure that one day soon, All the Algerians will shout out that the Sahara is Moroccan and thus defend the Arab Maghreb Union in a world where only unions have strength. –Signed, Acharif Moulay Abdellah Bouskraoui
moulay "ASSAHl" Posted 2009-02-13
Att: Ach Charif Moulay Bouskra ???... etc...etc Please do not write any more messages unless you are sure you have not added things that make you lose all clarity and control of yourself. Otherwise: Go to bed at a reasonable time if possible. Take a good shower in the morning and some very strong coffee before your breakfast. Afterward, I you manage to remember your name and what day it is and if you are thus conscious, you can write. And, reread your message several times to be sure that it says something and that it has a certain utility for others. Certainly, everyone loves to have a good laugh, but not all the time, whenever and however. Okay, Mr Acharif etc etc??? –Signed, Moulay “Assahi” PS: No hard feelings.
صحافيون بلا قيود Posted 2009-02-14
Journalists without limits, it highly greets the National Union of E-Press and its president Abdellah Saoura http://www.youtube.com/user/SNPEpress
المدون اليمني/نشوان غانم Posted 2009-02-18
Arab democracy: Fattening generals, killing activists and bloggers!! Reading the current Arab scene from the viewpoint of the press, tightening the loop even more on the margin of liberties consists of a serious phase which doesn’t go in tandem with the race of the world towards the information revolution. This serious phase which is led by the Arab ruler who wants to keep his people in the era of autarchy, ignorance, and accepting sour reality!! It is spinning a web in this regard. During recent years, the scope of continuous violations has widened. It affected many journalists, correspondents, activists and bloggers. With the extension in the scope of the so-called fourth estate, in this case e-press… It has provided a boundless space for writing with total audacity and freedom, for those who missed journalistic work without chains, far from the grip and stick of the authoritarian administration! As restrictions and censorship are also imposed on sites by authorities, there is no effective way in the presence of the so-called banned or censored sites. But there is no way to save the activist or blogger who falls in the grip of the authority. The latter wants to punish him because he writes posts about the gloominess of the fake reality. So from where can we begin this gloomy part which fills our minds every day and every moment? Shall we start from Yemen whose democracy killed the reporter Abdelhabib Salem, the journalist Abdelaziz Sekaf, the editor in chief of Yemen times paper, the journalist Hamid Chahra, the editor in chief of People paper who died in separate and doubtful accidents; in addition to its attempt to kill the journalist (Khalid Salmane), editor in chief of the Revolution paper who was charged for cases which aren’t associated with journalism. Then he asked for political asylum to Britain during the conference of donator countries sponsoring democracy in London with the delegation accompanying the president of the republic. Can two opposites meet? A country attends the conference of donator countries as a sponsor of democracy and in the delegation of journalists of that state, a journalist applies at the same time for political asylum to Britain? It has also tried the reporter Abdelkrim Khiouani for belong to Sanaa terrorist cell after he was kidnapped and beaten on three occasions for his writings about the regime and Saada war!! Many papers were also closed down.
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