By Youssef IGrouane
Meknes - Sanaa Boukhlis is a 32-year-old Moroccan journalist at Maghreb Al Yaoum, as well as a wife and a mother. Boukhlis has been awarded the Humanitarian Journalism Award in Dubai at the 14th annual Arab Media Forum, the first Moroccan journalist to be so awarded.
Sanaa Boukhlis is a humble person who has a passion for words and investigating the truth. She believes that nothing is impossible and that people can achieve success after learning from their mistakes and stumbles.
Ms. Boukhlis obtained a Baccalaureate in Science, and then followed her higher studies in Biology at Faculty of Science in Casablanca for two years. Shortly thereafter, she began yet another academic path—journalism. This abrupt shift in gears developed after a family friend convinced her that she had journalistic potential.
“In fact, I liked the idea, which surprised me at the beginning, before embarking on a new trajectory and studying at the higher institute of Media and Journalism in Casablanca (IFJ) and earning my BA in Media and Journalism. By God’s help I succeeded, even while maintaining a job even in the second year of my studies,” Sanaa Boukhlis told Morocco World News.
“My childhood dream was to pursue journalism; I had been aspiring to be a researcher. I had liked laboratories and the secret of combining things, but the dream turned into love of examining to the love of investigating the news and the truth,” Sanaa Boukhlis added.
Sanaa sees journalism as a noble profession and says it plays a major role in guiding people to credible information. She also admits that, unfortunately, journalism is experiencing a decline and has recently lost its previous level of importance.
“I’ve confronted countless obstacles in my career due to many people who were against some behaviors and disagree with my principles. The domain has become crowded with many intruders who diminish its quality. This idea oppresses the true journalist,” she stated.
Ms. Boukhlis grew up in a Moroccan family where she learned that if she is right, she must defend herself. Sanaa was the only girl among three boys and relates the most to her grandfather, may he rest in peace, who was a tenacious nationalist and fought sincerely for his homeland.
During their time together she was the most impressed by his unique mentality. He narrated the many heroic stories of free Moroccans and national movements. Sanaa was very emotionally close with her father, who she referred to as a warm friend before a father. Boukhlis also thanks her mother for teaching her patience and wisdom. “Actually, I’m most thankful to those persons who bred Sanaa Boukhlis,” Sanaa admitted.
“After 10 years in written press, nowadays I’m experiencing the visual field and I wish to be successful enough. My dream is developing the media and journalism domain and contributing to raising the flag of my homeland up,” Sanaa Boukhlis concluded.
© Morocco World News. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
The post Sanaa Boukhlis: Journey from Biology to Journalism appeared first on Morocco World News.