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Morocco’s media landscape is undergoing a delicate transition, marked by a rapid shift toward digital platforms and content creators, while continuing to grapple with structural challenges tied to low public trust and a restrictive legal environment, according to the newly released Digital News Report 2026 by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism. While efforts persist to shape and contain public debate, the kingdom’s media sphere has become both more dynamic and increasingly fragmented.
The report notes that Morocco’s public sphere experienced heightened tensions in the autumn of 2025 following the emergence of youth-led protests organized by the «GenZ212» movement. The protesters challenged public spending priorities, particularly infrastructure projects linked to the 2030 FIFA World Cup, while calling for reforms in healthcare, education and anti-corruption measures.
Faced with growing public pressure, official and traditional media outlets were compelled to adopt a more open approach, giving greater visibility to these demands while attempting to frame the debate through themes of sovereignty, stability and national cohesion.
According to the report, Moroccan audiences are increasingly embracing a «platforms-first» approach to news consumption, with traditional media no longer able to single-handedly shape the pace or tone of sensitive political debates. Facebook remains the leading source of news, used by 59% of respondents, followed by YouTube at 47%, while Instagram, WhatsApp and TikTok also play an important role in the circulation of information.
Low trust, strong brands
The report highlights a significant credibility challenge for Moroccan media, with overall trust in news standing at just 28%, compared with a global average of 37%. This is attributed to widespread concerns about misinformation, cited by 54% of respondents, as well as perceptions that the media avoids sensitive topics and largely reflects official narratives.
At the same time, the report points to a notable paradox: while confidence in the media system as a whole is declining, trust in certain individual outlets remains relatively high.
Medi 1 TV ranks highest, with a trust score of 72%, alongside weekly usage rates of 28% through traditional channels and 16% online. It is followed by Al Aoula and Laayoune TV, both trusted by 70% of respondents, with weekly audiences of 34% through traditional broadcasting and 17% digitally. 2M also performs strongly, recording a trust level of 69%, with weekly usage reaching 39% on television and 25% online. Medi 1 Radio and the SNRT News platform each score 69% for trust, with weekly reach standing at 20% through traditional radio and 13% digitally.
The report notes that these shifts have contributed to the rise of a new generation of news intermediaries, including YouTube commentators, content creators and independent digital voices, who increasingly play a parallel role in interpreting public affairs and government policies.
At the same time, the study stresses that Morocco’s legislative and regulatory environment remains tightly controlled. While recent reforms concerning the National Press Council and the professional status of journalists have been presented as modernization efforts, they are not universally perceived as such. These changes coincide with continued judicial pressure related to freedom of expression during periods of protest, reinforcing a broader climate of caution and self-restraint within the media sector.
This context is reflected in Reporters Without Borders’ 2026 World Press Freedom Index, where Morocco scored 50.55 points and ranked 105th globally.
The report concludes that Morocco’s media system is moving neither toward full openness nor complete closure. Instead, it is undergoing a gradual process of adaptation driven by the digital revolution. Yet this transformation does not necessarily translate into genuine media pluralism as long as trust remains low, institutions remain cautious and sensitive political debates continue to be managed selectively.
