Efforts in Morocco to increase women's engagement in the media

by بسام سبتي
Oct 31, 2018 in Diversity and Inclusion

Two organizations are working to narrow the gender gap in the Moroccan media.

The National Moroccan Press Syndicate (SNPM) has launched an awareness campaign, Magharebia reported.

The campaign will include diagnosis of the obstacles that result in gender disparity, in addition to addressing stereotypes and pushing for women rights.

"We decided to organize an awareness campaign to shed light on the importance of women's presence, not only as journalists, but also as officials who have the right to assume decision-making positions in their media institutions," SNPM chief Younes Moujahid told Magharebia.

SNMP released a new report last November stating that women constitute only 26 percent of journalists in the country. Even though the number of accredited female journalists rose by three percent during the period from 2005 to 2010, the country still lags behind other North African states in terms of women's involvement in the media, according to the report.

The Copenhagen-based International Media Institute (IMS) launched a program last September which it pairs Moroccan women journalists with women journalists in Denmark in an innovative ‘women journalists of excellence’ mentorship program.

IMS is a non-profit organization that works to support local media in countries affected by armed conflict, human insecurity and political transition.

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