Media and Postcoloniality: A Comparative Analysis of French and Moroccan Media Coverage of the 2023 Al Haouz Earthquake

On September 8th, 2023 a devastating earthquake hit the Al Haouz region of Morocco, this tragic event drew widespread media attention both nationally and internationally and prompted aid offers from various countries including France. Subsequently, Morocco’s decision to accept foreign aid only from four countries (Spain, Qatar, UK and UAE) and exclude the French offer sparked controversy and attracted particular attention from the French media.This event thus offered a platform for various interpretations and revealed divergent media narratives. This study, grounded in substantial theoretical framework of postcolonial media studies and framing theory, compares the media coverage of the earthquake by analysing the accounts of six prominent national newspapers equally divided between Morocco (Al Bayane, L’Opinion, and Hespress) and France (Libération, Le Monde, and L’Express) in a total of 79 articles. Through detailed thematic analysis of the selected newspapers, the study identifies themes such as National Identity and Politicization of Humanitarian Rescue. Preliminary findings suggest that French media predominantly framed the event critically with some interpreting the aid decision as a political manoeuvre reflecting diplomatic tensions, and others questioning if Morocco can effectively manage the crisis without French support. In contrast, Moroccan media perceived the French press reaction as paternalistic and engaged in a reporting that emphasised national solidarity and self-reliance while promoting the effectiveness of the Moroccan response in relief efforts. The goal of this research is to analyze how media outlets of both countries covered the 2023 Al Haouz earthquake by focusing on narratives surrounding Morocco’s rejection of French aid, crisis management, and leadership representation. The comparative approach adopted in this study aims to highlight the importance of understanding media narratives not only as mere reflections of current events but as deliberate constructions that are influenced by historical legacies and political factors particularly within postcolonial settings. This thesis, thus hopes to contribute to the broader discourse of media representations and framing narratives within the context of postcolonial international relations.