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Casablanca-native Imane Jebbour has been passionate about broadcasting since she was young. At middle and high school, she was dreaming of looking like one of her TV series heroes : lawyer Ally McBeal. At the end of the day she will choose a career in media, a few years later, even if her parents preferred to see her pursue a career in teaching.
«After my baccalaureate in 2005, I had to undertake some contests for higher education and I managed to get in preparatory classes», she recalls. «My mother did everything she could so I could get in, but she later convinced me that my journalism studies would be just as interesting and will open up many opportunities.»
The radio : a real media school
Imane Jebbour began her studies at the Higher Institute of Training and Communication (ISIC) the same year, where she discovered the world of written and televised journalism and was introduced to different journalistic genres.
Also passionate about football, she got her first experience in the sports press, before working for Arryadia and eventually at the Moroccan National Radio.
«Women are poorly represented in the world of journalism in Morocco but just a few years ago, they were virtually non-existent in editorial sports.»
The journalist quickly took a liking to the radio studios and branched out to the mainstream press. Just after graduating, she was retained at Medi1 Radio where she completed her final internship. Having enjoyed her time there, she stays for seven years and was especially active during the evening or early in the day.
«There is the knowledge we acquire at the university, but the professional world brings real learning», she says. Thus, the Tangier-based station «where becoming a news anchor was not easy for everyone» was really a great experience for the journalist. She tells Yabiladi that she had the chance to meet «the big names of the radio who have marked generations: Latifa Marouane, Nadia Ait Ali, Christophe Drevet, the late Olivier Muller, Brahim El Gharbi, Moncef Bouallag ...».
A need for change
In 2016, Imane Jebbour had already presented the major pieces of information on Medi1 Radio, magazines, press reviews and many other programs and felt a need for change. This is when she stumbled upon a recruitment announcement in Abu Dhabi for Sky News Arabia. After a video interview, she is selected among the candidates for the position and she begins a new life shortly after.
While she did not consider leaving Morocco immediately, the journalist flew to the Gulf a few weeks later. «I did not consider changing countries as quickly, let alone going to this region», she says. «But I took a suitcase with me and after an eight hour-flight, I landed in Abu Dhabi without knowing anyone, nor any accommodation and I had to look for it once there...»
Immediately at work afterwards, Imane Jebbour found herself in a great team «where all nationalities were represented, with very large spaces and a large staff». For those who were used to the «family atmosphere of Medi1 Radio», the adaptation was difficult, at least the first months.
«At first, I felt so out of touch that I often had to cry, dry my tears and rejoin my office to continue the work. When you tell yourself that you have left everything behind, friends, family, loved ones, to re-adjust elsewhere, it cannot be done in two or three weeks.»
Today, living in Abu Dhabi allows the journalist to discover the world of international television, but also to discover the cultures of neighboring countries, as she explains: «In Morocco, we do not meet as frequently people from different Arab countries. Here we learn about the traditions and celebrations of each Middle Eastern state, such as Palestine, Jordan, Lebanon or Sudan.»
Albeit it is possible to create a new circle of friends, especially among colleagues, Imane Jebbour points out that «being a Moroccan woman living in the Gulf is often poorly perceived, due to the reputation claiming that these women would go to the region only to end up as prostitutes.»
«Of course, the sensible people I met are just as much aware that all of this is prejudice, but Moroccan women do not tell everyone about their nationaly, as to avoid any potential conflation.»
Imane Jebbour, the journalist
Imane Jebbour believes that she is still «in an adaptation period», which allows her to develop rigor and discipline at a professional level. Now a recurring TV personality, she aims to keep evolving, and considers studying a master's degree, along with her career as a journalist.
