Newspapers of Morocco: dailies, magazines and news websites

In Morocco, news is read on sites such as Hespress, Le360 or Médias24, in dailies such as Le Matin and Assabah and in the magazine TelQuel, in Arabic, French and Amazigh, with the MAP agency and SNRT as public sources.

From party newspapers to an independent press

After independence in 1956, the Moroccan press was long dominated by party newspapers, such as Al Alam of the Istiqlal party. The 1990s and 2000s saw independent weeklies emerge, including TelQuel, launched in Casablanca in 2001.

Le Matin, Assabah and the major dailies

Le Matin, the historic French-language daily, is known for being close to the institutions. Assabah, in Arabic, made its mark with exclusive stories and crime news. L'Opinion, in French, remains linked to the Istiqlal party, illustrating the legacy of Morocco's partisan press.

Arabic, Amazigh, French, Spanish: who reads what?

Arabic dominates the popular press and the most visited websites, while French remains the language of business and part of the elite. Amazigh, official since the 2011 Constitution, is growing on television; Spanish survives in the north, around Tetouan.

Casablanca, Rabat, Tangier: a concentrated press

Most newsrooms are based in Casablanca and Rabat. The regions are covered by local sites and correspondents, notably in Tangier, Marrakech, Fez, Agadir and Oujda. The north is also covered by the Spanish press, which keeps a close eye on Ceuta and Melilla.

Hespress, Le360, Le Desk: the strength of digital

Hespress has become one of the country's most read sites, in Arabic, French and English. Le360 covers politics and sport in several languages, Le Desk bets on subscription-based investigations, and Arabic sites such as Alyaoum24 or Akhbarona draw a large mobile audience.

MAP, the kingdom's news agency

Maghreb Arabe Presse, founded in 1959, is the national agency. It reports royal activities, government statements and diplomatic news in Arabic, French, English, Spanish and Amazigh. Its wire reports are widely reproduced by Moroccan newspapers and websites.

What do SNRT, 2M and Medi1 offer?

SNRT groups Al Aoula, Arryadia, Tamazight TV and national radio; its SNRTnews portal publishes in several languages. 2M, based in Casablanca, and Medi1, in Tangier, complete the offer. Since liberalisation in 2006, many private radio stations broadcast under HACA oversight.

Moroccans abroad and Yabiladi

The Moroccan diaspora, large in France, Belgium, Spain and the Netherlands, has dedicated media such as Yabiladi, bilingual in French and Arabic. It also reads national sites and follows the French press on immigration and dual-nationality issues.

Médias24, L'Économiste and sports coverage

The economy is covered by Médias24, L'Économiste, founded in 1991, and Le Matin. For sport, Arryadia, Le360 Sport and the Hespress sections follow the Botola, Wydad, Raja and the Atlas Lions, heavily covered since the 2022 World Cup.

Press code and red lines

The Press and Publishing Code adopted in 2016 governs the profession, under the supervision of the National Press Council. Some subjects, such as the monarchy, Islam and territorial integrity, remain sensitive, and several journalists have been prosecuted in recent years.

Putting Morocco in a Maghreb perspective

Relations with Algiers, gas and Western Sahara are treated very differently from one country to another. Our Maghreb press hub and the Algerian press make it possible to compare versions and spot each newsroom's particular angles.

Subscriptions and cross-checking sources

Hespress, Le360 and Hibapress are free, while Le Desk and part of TelQuel or Médias24 run on subscription. For a delicate story, compare an outlet close to the institutions, an independent site and the MAP wire report.

Keeping up with Morocco from abroad

1. Pick a general site such as Hespress and a daily such as Le Matin to cover the essentials every morning.
2. Add Médias24 or L'Économiste to follow the Casablanca Stock Exchange, the central bank and the dirham.
3. Check MAP for official statements from the Royal Palace and the government.
4. Watch the 2M or Al Aoula news live online for the evening broadcast news.
5. Read TelQuel or Le Desk for longer investigations and political analysis.
6. Check Moroccan legal time, which changes during Ramadan, before scheduling a live broadcast.

Free access and subscriptions in Morocco

Key facts about the Moroccan press

• Languages: Arabic, Amazigh, French, Spanish in the north
• National agency: Maghreb Arabe Presse (MAP)
• Public broadcasting: SNRT (Al Aoula, Arryadia, Tamazight TV) and 2M
• Most visited news site: Hespress
• Business title: Médias24 or L'Économiste
• Time zone: UTC+1, moved back to UTC+0 during Ramadan
• Currency: Moroccan dirham (MAD)

What to avoid when reading the Moroccan press

• Confusing Assabah, the Moroccan daily, with the Tunisian newspaper of the same name or other Arabic titles sharing it.
• Taking at face value a site that imitates the Hespress or Le360 logo and spreads fake official statements.
• Reading an outlet close to the institutions and an opposition site without considering their respective editorial lines.
• Sharing a viral earthquake or flood video without checking that it really concerns Morocco and the current year.
• Using pirate sites to read Le Desk or TelQuel, which often carry malicious advertising.

What people ask about Moroccan media