Representativeness and Usurpation of Journalist Status: Younes Mjahed, President of the Provisional Commission for the Management of Press and Publishing Sector Affairs, denounces a deviation of the CNDH

Participants lacking professional legitimacy

According to Mjahed, the CNDH event included individuals “outside the profession,” who did not hold press credentials and were therefore not authorized to represent the journalistic community. Press authorities considered this a clear violation of the law governing professional journalists. In protest, the commission boycotted the roundtable, refusing to legitimize what it sees as an attack on the credibility and representativeness of the profession.

A rushed and controversial report

The situation became even more contentious when the CNDH report was published only 48 hours after the roundtable. The short timeline raised concerns about the report’s thoroughness, leading some observers to suspect that it had been pre-written. This, in turn, cast doubt on the transparency and seriousness of the council’s approach.

Blurring the debate on self-regulation

Mjahed also criticized the report for diluting discussions on press self-regulation into broad statements about human rights and freedom of expression. According to the commission, this approach is misleading because it may create the impression that the self-regulatory body should ensure compliance with all universal human rights principles, whereas its mandate is specifically limited to organizing the journalism profession.

Recommendations inconsistent with international standards

Another major criticism concerns the recommendations themselves. Mjahed argues that they do not align with the international standards cited in the report. Instead, the proposals appear purely local and fail to incorporate valuable lessons from foreign practices. Globally, a clear distinction is maintained between professional self-regulation and the conditions for entering the profession — a nuance the CNDH report overlooks.

Controversial inclusion of content creators

Perhaps most contentious is the suggestion to extend journalistic representation to volunteers and digital content creators. Mjahed views this as an attempt to open the door to “intruders” and “title usurpers,” contradicting the international trend of strengthening entry requirements and protecting the profession from abuses.

Impact on the credibility of Moroccan press

Ultimately, Mjahed stresses that the legitimacy of the profession is at stake. The provisional commission warns that such a shift could weaken Moroccan journalism at a time when it must instead consolidate its foundations, strengthen credibility, and safeguard itself against both internal and external threats.

Translated from Abderrazzak Boussaid’s French article – le7tv