At the start of this meeting, held in the presence of MAP Director General, Khalil Hachimi Idrissi, and members of the Board, the Board of Directors validated the minutes of the meeting of December 29, 2021, as well as the financial report for 2020.
Speaking on this occasion, Bensaid underlined the central role of MAP in the national media landscape, highlighting "the positive developments" that the Agency is constantly instilling into the national information sector.
He pointed out the commitment of his Department to accompany MAP in its ambitious projects to overcome the "new challenges that we all face", and to find solutions in the context of an approach that emphasizes the convergence with all partners.
Welcoming the work and efforts made by MAP's correspondents, both nationally and overseas, Bensaid stressed the importance of supporting the Agency to continue to "carry and defend the country's flag."
In a presentation on this occasion, MAP Secretary-General, Rachid Boumhil, reviewed the achievements of the Agency during 2020, describing it as "a year marked by an unprecedented situation": a general lockdown for 25% of the year, travel restrictions, the shutdown of several economic sectors, causing significant financial difficulties for several clients of MAP.
Faced with this adverse trend, MAP has had to demonstrate a great deal of flexibility, particularly on the organizational front, by putting in place virtual newsrooms and enhancing the mobility capacity of collaborators, practiced since 2015, which yielded excellent results, noted Boumhil.
MAP was able to remotely operate 50% of its staff during the general lockdown and was able to easily manage the peak phases of the pandemic, he said, noting that the Agency published two daily newspapers "Maroc Le Jour" and "Al Yaoum Al Maghribi", as well as two monthly magazines "BAB" in Arabic and French.
The Agency has contributed to the fight against fake news by creating a dedicated website, "mapanticorona. ma", which has released more than 21,000 pieces of information, in addition to the live transmission of press briefings of the ministry of Health, he added.
He recalled that 2020 was marked by the launch of the daily newspaper "Al Yaoum Al Maghribi," the Arabic version of "BAB Magazine" and a media manual, designed as a vector of management for the grid of M24 channel and RIM Radio.
Aware of the importance of digitalization, the Agency has implemented a new workflow automating the management of the photo to bring more fluidity and traceability, increasing the capacity and speed of processing and improving product quality.
Stating that MAP's interest in photography exceeds its production, he noted that the Agency has acquired more than 100,000 photos in 2020, an action carried out in cooperation with the MAP Foundation.
Similarly, MAP has acquired a new satellite transmission unit that reinforces the Agency's strength and deployment capacity.
In 2020, the agency has launched 4 new websites, namely Mapsport, Maptourisme, Mapfinance and Mapparité, recalled Boumhil, highlighting the ongoing policy of MAP Human Capital articulated around eight pillars of development.
Referring to the production of newswires in 2020, he said that, despite the pandemic context, MAP maintained an upward trend, with an increase of 3% compared to 2019, in compliance with the diversification of topics covered.
If the audiovisual activity was the most affected by Covid, with a drop in production for the first time, ranging between 37 and 46%, it did not however prevent graphics production to continue its rise with a new record of +78% compared to 2019.
Boumhil also noted the growing impact of social media, where the Agency's presence has improved significantly.
MAP published in 2020 the 6th edition of MAP album and the 4th edition of Factual Morocco and News of Morocco.
Regarding MAP international leadership, Boumhil pointed out to the organization by MAP of the 7th General Assembly of the World Congress of News Agencies in Marrakech in 2022.
Eager to develop its resources, MAP is conducting a study to identify the best ways to monetize its products, said Boumhil during the meeting, which approved the plan to clear outstanding debts proposed by the Agency, the voluntary work leave, the amendment of the rules of MAP contracts and several other measures of managerial and organizational nature.