If you don't push them, they will push you : A qualitative study on how six satirical journalists relate to the Moroccan majority media

Sammanfattning: The present thesis is constructed upon the findings of a two month long field research, a Minor Field Study (MFS), in Casablanca, Morocco between February and April 2017. The aim is to understand how Moroccan satirical journalists can be understood in relation to the Moroccan media, and seeks out to answer the following research questions: 1) how can the relationship between Moroccan satirists and the majority media be theorized, and 2) how do the satirists relate to journalistic ideals in regard to the truth? The thesis was conducted by applying semi-structured interviews with six satirical journalists. The analysis is based on theories on public spheres, counterpublics, juxtaposition and journalistic ideals, and evolves as a discussion that intertwines the Moroccan and global media arena and the rise of a subjective narrative in global journalism. This thesis concludes that the Moroccan satirists are driven by ideals that are substantially in line with that which we connect to journalism. And while there are reasons to believe that the satirists of this thesis are countering the Moroccan media – a conclusion supported by factors such as hegemony, expression and content – I argue that it is more accurate to define the relationship between satirist and the dominant media as a juxtaposition. This is supported by the way the satirists view their work – accentuating the need to be truthful, responsible, and by acting as the public's surrogate when interrogating and questioning the power elite.