Media Capture in Morocco: Between Politics, Economics, and Platformisation
摘要
This chapter explores the implications of the major forms of media capture in Morocco. First, it examines the economic and political control over the media in Morocco. Second, the emergence of the “politics of platforms,” as articulated by Gillespie in 2010, has ushered in a transformative era in the context of media capture. These emerging forms of capture are best described as “infrastructural capture,” a concept elucidated by Nechushtai in 2018. News organizations have become dependent on platforms such as Google and Facebook for tools provision for news production, audience analytics, and marketing insights. They also rely on funding sources. This chapter adopts the concept of media capture as an analytical framework and employs a qualitative case study approach to shed light on these intricate dynamics. It scrutinises how both media organizations, citizen journalists, alternative media organizations, and independent content creators (bloggers, YouTubers, Vloggers, and podcasters) have devised diverse strategies for resistance. Notably, the advent of digital technology has played a pivotal role in precipitating these transformative “resistance” practices. These innovations have pushed the boundaries of political expression, engendering a context in which sustainable business models within the media sector are being actively developed.