Abstract

This thesis analyzes the reasons Moroccan journalists leave their country. It looks closely at the conditions under which journalists work in the country, what they are searching for when they leave, and their experiences working abroad. Ten Moroccan journalists were interviewed (five women and five men). They were asked to share their own experiences while working in Morocco and after they left. In-depth interviewing was used to facilitate the exchange between the researcher and the participants. Giddens’ (1984) and Mosco’s (2009) structuration theory was mobilized as a theoretical framework to situate their experiences.

This research found that journalists left because they were looking for personal freedom and to improve their quality of life. They were also interested in personal development, in their careers and education. While restrictions on press freedom weren’t identified as a primary reason to leave the country, the participants offered insight into how self-censorship that occurs in Moroccan media can follow them to other countries. Finally, looking for more financial security was a reason to leave for half of the journalists who were interviewed, but even those who were not financially motivated to search for work elsewhere found that the higher salaries they received abroad have contributed to their increased quality of life.