May 18, 2007

The Casablanca Analyst

Filed under: Press Freedom, Breaking News, Reading, Maghreb Issues — taamarbuuta @ 5:15 pm

Yesterday, when The View From Fez posted that a new English-language newspaper, The Casablanca Analyst was on the stands, I could hardly believe it - but it is, indeed, true!  And aside from the aforementioned typos/translation errors, it’s quite excellent!  I read excerpts to my class last night, and would like to share my favorite with you.  It’s on page 2, in an article called “Ambition in modesty.”  Let’s read, shall we?

 We would like the reader to be pleased with his newspaper and to experience a faint thrill whenever he buys his copy of the Analyst.  We certainly do not want him to buy it grudgingly - as he sometimes does with some third rate newspapers - when he often feels swindled and finds that the daily he has purchased is too expensive for the two and a half Dirhams he paid for it.

On the contrary, we want our reader to buy his copy of the Casablanca Analyst without hesitation and almost with his eyes closed as he will each time be sure that every single article in it will bring him something new, will quench his intellectual curiousity, enrich his world view, and give him that exquisite pleasure that newspaper connoisseurs experience and that even the best satellite channels could not substitute.

Finally, we would like our public in Morocco to become a newspaper reading public in general and particularly to impatiently expect his copy of th eAnalyst and purchase it first thing in the day.  This may be a dream but we shall diligently work to make it come true./

My students remarked that the editors are indeed quite ambitious, and I don’t disagree, but that kind of confidence is what they’ll need to succeed in a country where even the most popular newspapers only sell around 100,000 per issue (Morocco’s population is 31 million), and where few people speak or read English.

And yet, I’m impressed, because not only are the articles original, but the writers seem to remain true to their identities, claiming their perspectives as Muslims, humanists, pacifists, environmentalists, nationalists, seekers of truth, democrats, lovers of literature and the arts, militants for freedom and economists (not in that order).

I look forward to the next issue.

33 Responses to “The Casablanca Analyst”

  1. lady macleod Says:

    I looked for it here in Rabat, but I haven’t found it yet. I shall check some other news stands next week. After your post, it sounds even more desirable.

  2. taamarbuuta Says:

    If it were to sell out anywhere, I’d guess it would be Rabat. The highest concentration of English speakers is there, from what I know.

  3. Global Voices Online » Morocco: The Week of Firsts Says:

    […] The Morocco Report also praised the newspaper, quoting from its pages and saying: My students remarked that the editors are indeed quite ambitious, and I don’t disagree, but that kind of confidence is what they’ll need to succeed in a country where even the most popular newspapers only sell around 100,000 per issue (Morocco’s population is 31 million), and where few people speak or read English. […]

  4. safdar Says:

    I found my copy at Casablanca Railway Station. As a non Arabic speaking - somewhat pidgin French speaker - I always have to make do with UK newspapers or the censored news from my wife! I was absolutely thrilled to see an English language Moroccan newspaper…………… there is no better way to know a country than through its press. It is a fantastic effort and I wish it every success.

  5. el ghali Says:

    Actually it was such a great surprise for me to find a Morrocan news papper with an English tongue.First of all let me say congratulation to all those great people that made this news papper up with all my best wishes for an endless contunuation of this news papper.
    with all my respect to the founding father of this news papper let me say that it was written with an academic writing ,Adequat vocab. intresting and attractive information to all kinds of readers .
    hop that a part will be left for us to express ourselves and be active writers.

  6. zvix Says:

    I do hope this newspaper will survive because i was told that some previous temptations did not.I am currently reading happily Casablanca analyst ,and i wish they will specify a column for students of English language to publish “stuff they write”.

  7. Mostafa Aouich Says:

    My sincere greeting goes to every single compatriote whose devotion to set the basis of an english speaking Moroccan newspaper heard in all over the world as well as to each fruitful contribution done for the accomplishment of this patriotic mission…

  8. R.said Says:

    I am proud of this new moroccan newspaper.I read many articles , but I feel and I dare say that this “newbaby” will have several troubles.Indeed some articles especially in national political field, are really what people like to read , but I am afraid as it is known in morocco that “political things”,if not well studied ,bring “economicalproblems” !.Besides another problem is that few people speak english in morocco.
    The owner of this splendid paper have much to do and will certainly have many obstacles.However I am quite sure that they will succed if they add to english some articles in arabic or frensh languages to help those who want to train their english, and also to present in other pages some games or plays such as sport reports etc .One day or another this newbaby will grow strong .I am proud of those behind this work.(good luck and Please excuse my english).R.SAID from Rabat.

  9. mounir Says:

    Indeed I like this newspaper, I think it the alternative for students of a forigne languages. the PROBLEM THAT WE SUFER FROM IS THAT THE NEWSPAPER IS FAR FROM OUR HANDS SINCE IT DOES NOT AVAILEBAL IN OUR CITY ( SEFROU ) AND I WANT TO HAVE THE N°s of this newspaper.

  10. najia cherkaou Says:

    But what all this mean? Where is this sick newspapares,I don’t find it anywhere?
    It’s clear that nothing can work here.

  11. Ayoub Regragui Says:

    I am so pleased to hear that finally there are some who have thought to regenerate our concerns. English language should no longer be seen as a fixed image of the “other” rather than an intelligent way to answer back that “other”. This respectful Moroccan newspaper should reflect our identity as Moroccans and correct those stereotypical images about us. Thus, it will be of a great value to approach those issues by making this work reach its international dimensions to break into the limits set by that “OTHER”.

  12. Asmaa Aouich Says:

    I would like to take a moment today to thank some of the people who are vital to this vibrant community, and who have made this new newspaper published in English;without whom our “English language” would suffer. Moreover, I hope that this newspaper can reach its goals: social field, political, cultural, or healthy one…

  13. azmi ilyas Says:

    good luck

  14. rachid zahir Says:

    peace be with you and congratulations! i would like to give special thanks to all the people who participated in producing such a very important newspaper in English. cos it will open up new vistas for all english students nd learners to express themselves. ultimately i wish that everyone could have the opportunity to share his or her ideas with you nd with all the readers of this newspaper. good luck.

  15. el farhani Says:

    frankly, the casa analys news paper impressed me.
    but the problem is that i did not find it.i hpe that it will be avialeble for the benefit of all morocan englihs readers.

  16. Faty Says:

    I got the 4 numbers so far.

    Big up for The Casablanca Analyst. It rocks.

    A great deal of Doctors that write regularly in it teach meeeee.

    Chea.

  17. Omar Bihmidine Says:

    I am really intrigued with the themes of this English newspaper despite its lack of resources like a website and worlwide contribution. Notwithstanding, it meets the needs of many individuals who are interested in English.

  18. abdelhadi barakah Says:

    I would like to give a special thank for all people who paticpated in producing this intereting newspaper.and special thanks for mr omar bihmidine who send me this siteweb. good luck

  19. abdellatif arrafouch Says:

    thanks for peaple who made more effort to published this newspaper. im waiting for a new copy of this month. Thanks to mr abdelhadi baraka my best friend in eljadida

  20. abdellatif arrafouch Says:

    thanks for peaple who made more effort to published this newspaper. im waiting for a new copy of this month. Thanks to mr abdelhadi baraka my best friend in eljadida good luck

  21. abdelhadi barakah Says:

    I would like to give a special thank for all people who paticpated in producing this intereting newspaper.and special thanks for mr omar bihmidine who send me this siteweb. good luck for you

  22. ACHRAF ABDELHAFID Says:

    I have recently purchased a copy of the Casablanca Analyst, and the only thing I can sincerely say is that it is PERFECT.
    Unfortunately the majority of Moroccans do not read a lot, if not at all, which will maybe cause the dissolution of this new born newspaper.
    all o you know what happened with the previous attempts to start printing a newspaper with a thong almost spoken by less than 5% of the Moroccan population.
    Sincerely I hope that this one will pace its way to come one of the best sold newspapers in Morocco.
    This stays a dream for the moment as they said, but sometimes dreams become reality…

  23. Abdelouhad Says:

    I would like to thank all the writers and who made a great effort to spread this Newspaper , I would be very greatfull to you if i find it in Marrakesh , i was walking once in fes while i came across this lovely newspaper , it is chaper , more realistic ,helpfull , and fit to all readers .

  24. Noureddine El Guennouni Says:

    Dear Sir or Madam,

    I am Noureddine El Guennouni, a 27-year-old English teacher and a Ph-D condidate at the university of Fez.

    I am so enthusiastic about contributing regularly to your newspaper. In this vein, I wonder about the requirements necessary for making any contribution.

    I am looking to hearing from you soon.

    Thank you very much in advance.

  25. life coach Says:

    i am extremely eager to get an edition of “The Casablanca Analyst” but unfortunately i do not find it.i do only have the first edition which was given to me by a dear professor..i will certainly find it…

  26. farida loulidi Says:

    special thanks dedicated for those,who are behind this fruitful work..but the problem is taht I looked for it here in fes, but I haven’t found it yet

  27. El idrissi Tarik Says:

    First of all I would like to express my great gratitude to the director of this prestigious newspaper.My comment is that there’s no really good edition of the articles written by averege if-not bad students.There must be competent proofreaders.Furthermore, my proposal is that you should not give the pen to whoever you meet. We need good Writers like Mr Ayt Draou, Mr Mohammed Maarouf (Choaib Dokkali University)… and so on and so forth. For instance, Mr Maarouf has written a very a quite interesting book about Jinn Eviction in which he describes the religiuos practices & beliefs among the majority of Moroccans. In a nutshell, the success of this newspaper would not be fulfilled only if you(as the director of Casa analyst)paid more interest to interesting topics. Cheers.

  28. El idrissi Tarik Says:

    First of all I would like to express my great gratitude to the director of this prestigious newspaper.My comment is that there’s no really good edition of the articles written by averege if-not bad students.There must be competent proofreaders.Thus, keep in an open mind that Casa Anlyst should mirror Moroccan’s English level.Furthermore, my proposal is that you should not give the pen to whoever you meet. We need good Moroccan Writers like Mr Ayt Draou, Mr Mohammed Maarouf (Choaib Dokkali University)… and so on and so forth. For instance, Mr Maarouf has written a very interesting book about Jinn Eviction in which he describes the religious practices & beliefs among the majority of Moroccans.In a nutshell, the success of this newspaper would not be fulfilled only if you(as the director of Casa analyst)paid more interest to up-to-date & interesting topics. Cheers.

  29. Faty Says:

    I got all my copies from my university.
    It’s a cool newspaper.

    I love Mr Oujetti’s short-stories.
    They’re fun.

    =]

  30. Mostafa Aouich Says:

    Dear Readers,

    It is indeed a successful battle that the concerned people of this newspaper raised to let this newly borne piece of art remains till now alive. I doubted at a certain time the extent of resistance and challenge that Casablanca Analyst can have.Yet, till i came across this website today, i become more than sure that the defiance for triumph is on its way to be confirmed since the hardest is to start and keep for a while at the same pace..

    The best of luck to our warriors—the team behind scene—

    Regards,
    Mostafa,
    UAE

  31. Adil Benmoussa Says:

    First of all,I would like to give special thanks to a ll the people who provided us with this vital issues. Frankly speaking,this new newspaper is really worth reading.The responsibles of it should double their efforts so as to make it weekly by hook or crook.

  32. Adil Benmoussa Says:

    First of all,I would like to give special thanks to all the people who provided us with these vital and stimulating issues.In fact, the responsibles of this new newespaper should double their efforts to make it weekly by hook or crook.Frankly speaking.it is really worth reading.

  33. In reply to Tarik Says:

    Poor Tarik,

    If the articles of those students had been bad, the editor would not have published them. The position is so much better than yours, so there is no need to tell his what he should do concerning the editions of articles or the themes of the newspaper.

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