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Rabat — The jury of the 23rd National Press Awards revealed yesterday the winners across various categories during a ceremony held in Rabat.
The event provided an opportunity to honor journalists and media personnel for their works, with prominent figures from Morocco’s cultural, literary, and media spheres in attendance.
Honorary awards recognize career contributions
The honorary prize, which celebrates figures who have shaped Morocco’s media landscape, went jointly to Naïm Kamal, journalist and director of Quid.ma, and the late Said El Jadidi, former journalist at SNRT’s Spanish desk.
The honorary prize for Moroccan journalists working in foreign media outlets recognized beIN Sports journalist Jawad Badda and Fatima Zahra Bouaziz, correspondent for Spain’s EFE news agency in Morocco.
In an interview with Morocco World News (MWN), Bouaziz expressed her pride in the recognition. “I consider this award an appreciation and acknowledgment of the work of Moroccan correspondents who work in international platforms here in Morocco and who practice their profession daily with high professionalism and dedication,” she said.
She dedicated the award to her colleagues in international reporting and in the national press who have supported her throughout her career since joining EFE in 2012.
Television and radio categories celebrate diverse reporting
The television prize went jointly to Abdellah Jaafari of Medi1 TV for his report on the Mohammed VI Football Academy and Younes El Bdiwi of SNRT’s Cultural Channel for his work on Morocco’s scientific Waqf.
In radio, Nabila Qamimi of Alidaa Alwatania won for her report on the Green March epic, sharing the prize with Mounia Arshi for her coverage of proposed Family Code reforms.
Arshi, Editor-in-Chief of News at SNRT, received a national award at the 23rd National Press Awards, marking the fifth accolade in her professional career.
Speaking to MWN, she said “Thanks to God, this fieldwork has been honored. Of course, this recognition is not mine alone — it belongs to my colleagues at the national media who supported and collaborated with me throughout this project.”
Her reporting involved extensive fieldwork and a comprehensive approach, capturing a range of perspectives from both conservative and progressive voices.
Written press exposes hospital security abuses
Nabila Bakkass of Le Matin claimed the written press award for her investigative piece “Public Hospitals… When Security Guards Dictate Their Law.”
Speaking to MWN, Bakkass described the honor as “a mandate more than a tribute to further diligence in journalistic work.”
Her investigation examined and exposed how security guards in public hospitals impose their own rules. “This work is an investigation that took time to understand what these security guards do in ways we don’t want for our country,” she explained.
Bakkass thanked the organizing committee, the supervising ministry, Mohamed Alhithami, and her colleagues who supported her journey. She noted the timing of her award coincides with Morocco celebrating Unity Day, the 50th anniversary of the Green March, and Independence Day, giving it special national significance.
Digital media and investigation awards
Khadija Alimoussa of TelQuel Arabi won the digital press category for her article on child recruitment in Tindouf.
The investigative journalism prize went to 2M journalists Asma Aïnoun and Zakaria Dhalfi for their work on the Marouane Al-Mokaddem case in the “Moukhtafoun” program.
Regional and cultural coverage recognized
The agency press prize honored Mohamed Haddadi for his article on prayer beads and their symbolic significance as an important gift for religious pilgrims.
Ibrahim Ishwi and Fadwa Amghar, both from Amazigh Radio, shared the Amazigh journalism production prize for reports on tribal customs and mussel harvesting, respectively.
The Sahrawi Hassani culture and space prize went to Cheikh Maâ El-Ainine of Radio Laâyoune for coverage of the Tiznit-Dakhla highway and Ghali Karhi of Chaine Laâyoune for his work on horses in Oued-noun.
Hafedh Malain of Laâyoune Now won the regional press award for his report “The Glorious Green March, Half a Century of Loyalty.”
Photography honored, caricature category empty
Photographer Abdelmajid Bziouat of L’Économiste received the photography prize for “M’hamid el Ghizlan… Temple of Nomadic Heritage.”
The caricature category had no winner this year.
The ceremony paid tribute to several media figures, including Leïla Maâ Al Ainine, Mohamed Dakka, Mohamed Seddik Maaninou, and sports journalist Lino Bako.
Jury proposes expanded categories
While the jury president Fatima Zahra Ouriaghli commended the high level of this year’s 156 submissions, she presented several recommendations for future awards, including creating awards for presentation and dialogue work, establishing a special sports journalism prize, and restructuring the Awards to include second and third place prizes to motivate more journalists.
