Morocco Local Press and International Media - Article Example

Morocco: Between Morocco Local Press and International Media Morocco is considered as an important regional ally, a free trade analogue, as well as a member for counterterrorism. For this reason, many countries across the globe view Morocco as an important country, particularly the U.S. that has doubled its trade and investment in the country after the Free Trade Agreement in 2006. Bordered by the Mediterranean Sea and the Atlantic Ocean the country has numerous issues and problems on every aspect and on every level. This paper will analyze Morocco as portrayed by the Moroccan local press and by the international media. The difference in framing (if any), differences and similarities in company’s ownership structures will also be highlighted in the paper with the help of two different articles on the same topic and the course textbook. The two articles are selected from 1) a local Moroccan newspaper i.e. Morocco World News and 2) from an international news agency, i.e. the Guardian. Both the articles have discussed the issue of the arrest of the Moroccan journalist for publishing a video that was posted by Al-Qaeda as an act of terror. The issue has been covered differently at both ends, and this is the reason why the articles and the issue have been selected for this analysis (MoroccoWorldNews) (Hamilos). According to the local perspective i.e. according to the Morocco World News, the video has openly claimed an act of terror and is against the interest and security of the country. On the contrary, the international news agencies and media are portraying the arrest of the journalist as an attack on the freedom of speech, and that the journalist should be released (however, the journalist is currently on bail). The ownership of the two different news agencies can define the difference of coverage as one is talking in the interest of the country while the other one is trying to raise it as an international issue to gain viewership and interest (Thussu). Critical Claim: many countries have always criticized international media for presenting bias information and prospect. To bag international attention, international media often writes stories than what they are and shapes public perception as per their will and agenda. To support my critical input, I would like to present the information from within the articles, their headlines, and their main focus. For example article 1 has talked about the arrest of the journalist and has highlighted how it had affected the country’s policies and interests while article 2 has talked about the freedom of speech and how Morocco is not coping up with it (Thussu). Morocco is a country, which does not support terrorism. Furthermore, it is a counterpart of the international community for fighting against terrorism. The Kingdom of Morocco is located on the North West of Africa and is culturally diverse because of the various languages that are spoken in the country. The flourishing country has grabbed the attention of many. This becomes evident with the recent issue of the arrest of the editor of the popular news website (Storm). Issue 1: The difference in the ownership and the different in perspectives of the two articles have effectively made it easier to understand the core claim of the paper. The process of communication is often used as a major element for propaganda and the media have been an important forum for such issues. History tells us about how media been utilized by the international players to communicate with the world and also, to transfer their ideas and thoughts to the rest of the world (MoroccoWorldNews) (Hamilos). According to the article ‘Morocco arrests website editor for airing Qaeda video’ that was published in the Moroccan newspaper ‘Morocco World News’ it has been noticed that the editor, Ali Anouzla, is the director of the famous new website Lakome (MoroccoWorldNews). He was arrested for airing a video. The video was originally posted by Al-Qaeda, which is a terrorist organization that is responsible for the 9/11 attacks and has organized many other terrorist attacks throughout the world, in the Islamic Maghreb that has clearly demonstrated the ‘acts of terrorism’ in the Moroccan Kingdom (MoroccoWorldNews). According to the Moroccan laws and government, the video clearly asked for a direct invitation for committing acts of terrorism in the Kingdom of Morocco. The article said that Anouzla was arrested from his house while the website was seized and all his personal data and files from the office were taken into custody. According to the public prosecutor ‘Appropriate legal procedures will be applied in light of the investigation’ (MoroccoWorldNews). The horrifying video, entitled ‘Morocco: the kingdom of corruption and despotism’ has openly asked people to go for ‘Jihad’ (a religious fight) against the country which is located in the north western region of Africa. Furthermore, the video openly points out the King Mohamed VI to be killed as he has been shown engulfed in flames in the video (MoroccoWorldNews). On the contrary, the article ‘Morocco warned of the crackdown on freedom of speech as editor faces trial’ that was published in ‘The Guardian’ has openly called it as crackdown for the freedom of speech. According to the international news agency, the incident is said to be a threat for the so-called freedom of speech and that the journalist was just doing his job. According to the article, his arrest and the trial is a ‘gross distortion’ of truth. The ‘freedom of speech’ campaigners are saying that Moroccan government is doing this to destroy the image of the journalist and the website, ‘Lakome’ (Hamilos). ‘Worrying setback for freedom of expression’. This is what the article calls the arrest is all about. This is not just one article, which has stated this, there are numerous others, which have in one way, or another claimed that it is a threat for freedom of speech, the press, and journalists. Moreover, such articles from the international news agencies have also questioned the visibility and dignity of the judicial system of the Kingdom (Hamilos). The Moroccan media reacted in a very anti manner for the airing of the video by Anouzla and has received huge criticism (while some news agencies quoted what the international media said). Similarly, the people of Morocco also did not appreciate the step and has criticized it in various manners. However, according one of the local newspapers of Morocco, ‘L’Opinion’ the step is said to be ‘totally reprehensible’. By posting such a video which defend terrorism, the website Lakome, ‘guarantees that it receives the widest possible audience’ said the Prosecutor (MoroccoWorldNews). Issue 2: Article 1 has declared that the act of airing that video has created fear amongst the public and has indirectly threatened the kingdom and its security. The journalist should have known the limits. As according to the new article, the video is believed to be the first of its kind and is being taken seriously as one of the franchises of the terrorist network of Al-Qaeda is working in the North of Africa since 2007. Moreover, the video was also removed from the famous global video streaming website ‘YouTube’ as it has breached the laws and policies for showing violence (MoroccoWorldNews). Morocco has previously been a victim of various terrorists’ attacks by the Islamists extremists. This can be evidenced with the help of the 2003 incident that took place in Casablanca. The incident took lives of more than 33 innocent people as 12 suicide bombers conducted suicide attacks in the city in 2003 (MoroccoWorldNews). This illustrates that the strict prosecution against the airing of the video and journalists are the precautionary measures, which the government is taking. Sadly, on the other hand, focusing on just one point, the international media is trying to picture the issue the other way around. The issue has spurred the international media, international organizations and human activists groups, which are now trying to free Anouzla out of the scene, innocent (Hamilos). According to article 2, Youssef Belal, who is a professor at the University of Columbia, stated, "The Anouzla case shows that the judicial system is entirely under the orders of the monarchy. Rather than being the protectors of freedom, many judges serving the regime are its gravediggers". This defines that such a depiction of the issue, which is too sensitive to be mistaken, can create chaos in the international society as it is spreading hatred amongst people regarding Morocco (Hamilos). Conclusion As per the understanding of the aforementioned articles i.e. article 1 from Morocco World News and article 2 from the Guardian, a series of things have been noticed. The process of communication is often used in a negative manner by the international media. The local media (majority) people and the state of Morocco are in a conflict with the international news agencies. The issue of the arrest was portrayed the other way around and the security of the country was taken as granted in this era of terrorism. International media has called the actions as a threat to freedom of speech while questioning the judicial process of Morocco. The public prosecutor assures that the case will be analyzed and assessed considering every legal aspect with all due aspects. Such airing of videos can cause security issues in the country while the biased portrayal of the issue can create chaos in the international society. It is therefore necessary, to comprehensively analyze every aspect of the issue and present the story being neutral. Then only an alignment can be seen in both the local and international news agencies around the world, which can avoid further serious issues, that happens as the end product. Works Cited Hamilos, Paul. "Morocco warned of crackdown on freedom of speech as editor faces trial." 27 October 2013. theguardian.com. Web. 15 February 2014. . MoroccoWorldNews. "Morocco Arrests Website Editor for Airing Qaeda Video." 17 September 2013. moroccoworldnews.com. Web. 15 February 2014. Storm, Lise. Democratization in Morocco: The Political Elite and Struggles for Power in the Post-Independence State. New York: Routledge, 2007. Print. Thussu, Daya. International Communication: Continuity and Change. London: Bloomsbury Academic, 2006. Print. Read More