With the rise of YouTube, blogs and self-publishing, more and more people are denouncing the government and reaching a massive audience.

“Qanass” – which means hunter - is among this crowd. He has become notorious for his videos of abusive policemen. “He is the archetype of whole generation of people disappointed by the system, who have chosen activism to denounce the abuse and injustice caused by the system,” wrote Ali Amar, for the Journal hebdomadaire.

The Web’s particularities also empowers authors: they can interact with readers and gain popularity, and their anonymity enables them to say things that would never be tolerated in traditional media (this can also admittedly lead to the opposite effect, abusive or extremist content).

This news is then picked up by the national press, to the benefit of all. The latest study by the Pew Research Center reveals that Moroccans value the press much more than they do government authority.

As citizens get read to vote for their deputies, Morocco is lucky to have citizen journalists support freedom of expression. In recent months, several publications including Nichane, Al-Watan, Maroc Soir and the Weekly Journal have been squeezed by the tightening grip of authorities.

Source: AFP – Le journal hebomadaire (link in French) - illustration by RIK in L'Economiste