From the Guide to Regional Trainings: MediaGuard Builds the Foundations of Ethical Journalism in Morocco

In four years, MediaGuard has become one of the most structuring programs on gender sensitive journalism, thanks to a series of initiatives that strengthen the skills of journalists and improve the quality of information delivered to the public.

Launched with a national reference guide on ethical and informed media coverage of gender based violence, MediaGuard quickly established itself as a catalyst for change. In 2024, the first intensive residency marked a turning point: journalists and human rights defenders benefited from in depth training that allowed them to adopt professional practices that are respectful, informed and centered on survivors.

This cohort then spread its expertise through the first two Peer2Peer trainings in Rabat and Tangier.

Between 2024 and 2025, the program reached a new stage by expanding to the regions of Tangier, Agadir and Oujda. Thanks to the Peer2Peer model, journalists who have already been trained are now leading the sessions themselves, reinforcing the regional anchoring of the project and creating a dynamic of empowerment within local professional communities.

To date, MediaGuard has made it possible

– to train more than 40 journalists and human rights defenders,

– to support regional trainers capable of duplicating the training,

– to produce and disseminate more ethical and more responsible journalistic content,

– and to stimulate a national discussion on the media representation of gender based violence.

The impact is clear: journalists are able to adopt coverage that is less sensationalist, more respectful of the dignity of survivors, better contextualized, and aware of social and legal issues. The project also helps strengthen the role of women journalists and the consideration of gender in media production.

According to Sami Elmoudni, President of the Moroccan Forum of Young Journalists, “For the FMJJ, the objective remains the same: to equip the media to better protect, better inform and better serve society. And the results obtained show that this ambition now constitutes a solid basis on which to build and sustainably strengthen media practices in Morocco.”

This dynamic, built year after year, confirms the importance of MediaGuard as a space for learning, reflection and transformation. The FMJJ and the Heinrich Böll Foundation Rabat reaffirm their commitment to continue this trajectory in 2026, by expanding access to training and consolidating a national network of journalists committed to ethical journalism that respects human rights.

Editorial team/le7tv