Title:
Moroccans’ Perceptions and Attitudes Towards radio Mohammed VI of the Holy Koran

Authors:
Hamid Nabil, Morocco

Abstract:

In 2002, the Moroccan communication authorities laid the legal platform of the audiovisual liberalization project. Four years later, the media landscape witnessed the birth of the first generation of private radio stations which were followed by the second generation three years later. Public media did no more benefit from the monopoly privilege. Instead, the media landscape was submerged by a constellation of alternatives attempting to forge a distinctive identity that would help achieve the largest audience. The real competition occurred between not only the private stations but also the public and private ones.

This article examines the relationship between specialized media programs and the audience perceptions and attitudes. It puts under analysis the pioneering performance of radio Mohamed VI of the holy Koran as it is the only Moroccan radio station specialized in the Islamic religion. Throughout 11 years of broadcast, and with regard to the audience rate measurement bulletins, the station has consistently managed to outrun the others by realizing the highest audience rates. The study is based on field research that investigates the elements and reasons behind the station’s success; it also uses the conclusions and implications as references to scrutinize the dyadic relationship between Moroccans and their Muslim identity. The study is inspired from the audience rate bulletin published by Radio CIRAD which has confirmed it as a leading media model. This finding has also been solidified by the population sample that took part in the present study.

The study adopts the mixed approach bringing together both quantitative and qualitative research instruments. The former includes CIRAD’s statistical platform whereas the latter refers to semi structured interviews recorded with 50 participants. The study seeks to answer two research questions namely (i) What are Moroccans’ perceptions and attitudes towards Radio M6 of the holy Koran? (ii) What are the underlying reasons behind its prevalence?

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.51505/ijaemr.2024.9306