Maroc Soir Group is a pro-government publishing company based in Casablanca, Morocco.

Profile

The group is the oldest media company in Morocco.[1] It was founded during the French protectorate-era as "Mas presse" by Pierre Mas and Yves Mas.[2] Moulay Ahmed Alaoui was founder of the group.[3] It edited the publication Le Petit Marocain which promoted the colonial policies of France in Morocco and defended its interests.[4] It also supported the Vichy government and was reprimanded for that after 1945.[5]

On 1 November 1971, during the Moroccanization, the company was expropriated and re-branded as Maroc Soir, editing Le Matin and Maroc Soir.[4][2] In 2001, the group was acquired by Othman Benjelloun[6] and sold again in March 2004 to its current Saudi owner, businessman Othman Al Omeir, a former editor-in-chief of Asharq Alawsat and current owner of Elaph.[7][8] He acquired the group for $16 million.[1]

Newspapers

The Group owns the following papers:[9]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b "New French-Language Daily in Morocco". The Arab Press Network. 22 November 2005. Archived from the original on 14 October 2013. Retrieved 12 October 2013.
  2. ^ a b Abdellah Chankou. "Jettou au chevet de Maroc Soir". Maroc Hebdo. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
  3. ^ Thomas K. Park; Aomar Boum (16 January 2006). Historical Dictionary of Morocco. Scarecrow Press. p. 25. ISBN 978-0-8108-6511-2. Retrieved 30 September 2014.
  4. ^ a b Aârab ISSIALI (14 December 2001). "Une nouvelle vie pour Maroc Soir". Aujourd'hui le Maroc. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
  5. ^ Louis Gravier (January 1972). "La disparition des quotidiens du groupe Mas répondait aux vœux de la population". Le Monde diplomatique. Retrieved 23 January 2014.
  6. ^ "Media". Telquel. Archived from the original on 2 December 2013. Retrieved 27 November 2013.
  7. ^ "The Murdoch of the Middle East". The Majalla. 21 May 2010. Archived from the original on 23 July 2012. Retrieved 2 June 2012.
  8. ^ "Al Omair's group becomes owner of Morocco's largest press establishment". KUNA. 27 March 2004. Retrieved 9 October 2014.
  9. ^ "Maroc Soir Orders KBA Continent for Casablanca". KBA. Archived from the original on 8 October 2013. Retrieved 8 October 2013.
  10. ^ a b Jeter, James Phillip (1996). International Afro mass media: a reference guide. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 114. ISBN 0-313-28400-8.
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