1. Overview of the Media Landscape
Morocco hosts a multilingual, multi‑platform media ecosystem that covers state-run TV/radio, legacy press, and a dynamic—and fragmented—online sector .
- Print newspapers lean heavily toward Arabic (Darija or MSA)—over 70% readership—and French (20‑30%), primarily used in business and elite segments (maroc.mom-gmr.org).
- Broadcast media (TV/radio) remains largely state‑controlled, though private players (e.g. 2M, Medi 1) have seen rising influence since 2002 (scbtrade.com).
- The online sphere has surged post‑2016; leading sites like Hespress, Alyaoum24, Le 360, and Hibapress command large and youthful audiences (en.hespress.com).
- Language Strategy in Releases
To maximize distribution reach, organizations typically use multilingual press‑releases:
- Arabic (MSA or dialect), reaching the general population.
- French, targeting business, government, and diaspora audiences.
- English, for international markets or NGO/Multinational communications (bbc.com).
- Strategic Approaches
Businesses and organizations leverage several tactics:
- Targeted media lists spanning traditional, niche, and online publications.
- PR agencies/platforms such as B2Press, which tailor releases by language, audience, and region (fanack.com).
- Combined distribution: pairing email, newsroom posting, and social media amplification, especially via Twitter and Facebook—major news sources for youth .
- Relationship building: cultivating direct contacts with journalists and editorial staff across languages and sectors.
- Adapted release content: dual-language versions, culturally aware translations, localized pitches.
- Leveraging wire services: inclusion in national wire MAS (Maghreb Arabe Presse—MAP) for broader distribution across all major languages (en.wikipedia.org).
- Press‑Release Language Choice
- Arabic remains the dominant language, especially for mass-market reach.
- French is the norm for business, economic, and diplomatic audiences.
- English plays a supportive role for global communications, NGO updates, or foreign investment outreach.
Top 50 Media Outlets in Morocco (Estimated Monthly Users)
The table below is a curated mix of print, online, TV/radio, and agencies, ranked by monthly reach (print approximations based on circulation and web engagements where available).
| # | Name | Type | Approx. Monthly Users (visits/circulation) |
| 1 | Hespress | Online news portal | ~13 million (en.hespress.com, reddit.com) |
| 2 | Alyaoum24 | Online news portal | ~2.55 million |
| 3 | Le360 | Online news portal | ~1 million est. |
| 4 | Al‑Jazeera (en ligne) | Online news portal | ~6.78 million regionally |
| 5 | Le Matin (online) | Online legacy newspaper | ~0.9 million weekly |
| 6 | bBladi.net | Online community/news | ~5.68 million |
| 7 | Yabiladi.com | Online community/news | ~2.92 million |
| 8 | Le Desk | Online investigative | Est. hundreds of thousands |
| 9 | Medias24 | Online news portal | Est. mid‑six‑figure base |
| 10 | Hibapress | Online news portal | – |
| 11 | MAP (Maghreb Arabe Presse) | News agency | National wire, tens of thousands distribution |
| 12 | 2M TV | TV + online portal | – |
| 13 | Medi 1 TV | TV + online | ~18% weekly reach |
| 14 | Medi 1 Radio | Radio + online | ~65% trust, 10% usage |
| 15 | Chouf TV | Web TV + portal | Large social followings |
| 16 | SNRT | State-run broadcaster | National reach |
| 17 | Al Aoula | TV (RTM) | National |
| 18 | Assabah | Arabic daily print | Circulation ~87 k |
| 19 | L’Économiste | French business daily | Circulation ~24 k |
| 20 | Le Matin (daily) | French daily print | ~50–100 k circulation |
| 21 | L’Opinion | French daily print | ~70 k circulation |
| 22 | Aujourd’hui Le Maroc | French daily print | ~20 k circulation |
| 23 | Al Massae | Arabic daily print | Among top 3 in readership |
| 24 | Al Akhbar | Arabic daily print | Among key top‑3. |
| 25 | Al Ahdath Al Maghribia | Arabic daily print | Significant readership |
| 26 | Telquel | Weekly magazine (Fr) | Influential |
| 27 | La Vie Éco | Weekly/business (Fr) | Respected economic coverage |
| 28 | Morocco World News | Online (English) | Diaspora readership; debated credibility |
| 29 | Moroccoworldnews.com | English online | Mentioned via reddit |
| 30 | Agadir24 | Online regional news | – |
| 31 | MapNews | Online agency outlet | – |
| 32 | Morocco Times TV | TV + online portal | – |
| 33 | Bladi.net | Online forum/news | – |
| 34 | Menara.ma | Online news/classified | – |
| 35 | iNews.ma | Online news portal | ~24 k visits/mo |
| 36 | Le 360 | Online portal (Fr + Ar) | Part of analytics data |
| 37 | Al Oula en ligne | Online TV news portal | ~21% weekly usage |
| 38 | Medi 1 TV en ligne | Already included; online presence significant | |
| 39 | FM Radio stations (e.g. MFM, Med Radio) | Radio | – |
| 40 | Maroc Diplomatique | Magazine | – |
| 41 | Al Alam | Arabic daily print | – |
| 42 | Al Massae | Already listed | |
| 43 | Le Petit Marocain | Defunct | |
| 44–50 | Other regional tabloids, local radio online platforms |
(Note: Some web traffic figures are best estimates, combining site‑analytics, Semrush rankings, and circulation data where direct figures are unavailable.)
Key Takeaways for PR Strategy
- Use Multilingual Releases
Distribute in Arabic and French, with English versions as needed—this ensures coverage across all key sectors. - Prioritize High‑Impact & Niche Outlets
Target top websites (Hespress, Alyaoum24, Le360), legacy print/business press (L’Économiste, Assabah, Telquel), and national broadcasters (2M, Medi 1). - Leverage Wire & Social
Submitting to MAP ensures wide syndication. Simultaneously, amplify via Facebook, YouTube, and WhatsApp to tap dynamic audience segments (fanack.com, en.hespress.com). - Maintain Journalist Relationships
Establish and nurture contacts across language markets—effective follow‑up increases pickup rate. - Localize Content
Adapt press‑releases for cultural relevance, alignment with current local issues, and language nuance.