Mass media in Egypt: Difference between revisions
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* [http://www.alwafd.org/v4/News/index.php Al-Wafd] (opposition) |
* [http://www.alwafd.org/v4/News/index.php Al-Wafd] (opposition) |
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* [http://www.al-ahaly.com Al-Ahaly] (opposition) |
* [http://www.al-ahaly.com Al-Ahaly] (opposition) |
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* {{en icon}} [http://www.metimes.com Middle East Times] |
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Revision as of 04:39, 31 January 2011
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The media of Egypt is highly influential in Egypt and in the Arab World, attributed to its large audience and increasing freedom from government control.[1][2] Freedom of the media is guaranteed in the constitution, and the government is increasingly respecting this, however many laws still remain that restrict this right.[1][3] After the Egyptian presidential election of 2005, Ahmed Selim, office director for Information Minister Anas al-Fiqi, declared the era of a "free, transparent and independent Egyptian media."[2]
The press
The written press is very diverse in Egypt, with over 500 newspapers, journals and magazines available. However these are owned mostly or in some way by the government, the opposition or other political parties.[3] Several journalists from private newspapers have been arrested and jailed for breaching laws that prohibit criticism of the President, state institutions and foreign leaders, or "putting out false news harming the reputation and interests of the country".[4] However, unlike many of Egypt's regional counterparts, criticism of the government in general does take place[1], after amendments to existing press laws in 2006 which however still criminalise libel.[3]
On one occasion, an Egyptian court revoked the publishing license for Ibdaa (Creativity), a small circulation magazine for publishing a "blasphemous" poem by Egypitan poet Hilmi Salem. Speaking on the ruling, the court said that "Freedom of the press... should be used responsibly and not touch on the basic foundations of Egyptian society, and family, religion and morals."[5]
Television and radio
There are a mix of state broadcasters (of which there are 2) and increasingly, private broadcasters. Figures from the CIA Factbook state over 98 television channels in 1995, and 57 AM and 14 FM radio channels in 1999. Pan-Arab channels such as Al-Jazeera are also very popular among viewers, especially for news, as private broadcasters are forbidden to broadcast their own news, instead only focusing on entertainment or music.[3] The Ministry of Information controls content in the state-owned broadcast media. Egypt was the first Arab nation to have its own satellite, Nilesat 101 which allows the Egyptian TV and film industry to supply much of the Arab-speaking world with shows from its Media Production City.[1] The previously tight controls on state TV and radio gave way to even and fair coverage of all political parties involved in the Egyptian presidential election of 2005, a first for Egyptian media.[2] However in 2006 several journalists working for the Cairo branch of the Qatar-based Al-Jazeera were detained for investigating subjects such as police brutality and "harming the country's reputation".[3][4]
Internet
The government has actively encouraged internet usage, quadrupling over the last few years with around 17 million regular users in 2010, around 21 percent of the population.[3] The internet is often used for political opposition, blogging and lively debate amongst the public and by the media which can publish stories that are prohibited in the print media.[4] The Egyptian government does not widely censor the internet, though the state-run Supreme Administritive Court allowed the Ministry of Information and Ministry of Communication to close down or block websites that are a "threat to national security".[3] However, several people have been detained for insulting Islam, state institutions and President Hosni Mubarak during pro-democracy protests, as well as government officials in cases of abuse by the security services.[3][4]
Freedoms
Following peace talk over the Middle East conflict at the Sharm al-Sheikh in Egypt, Al-Ahram was caught doctoring a photo that had showed US president Barack Obama in the front to show Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak walking in the lead on a red carpet ahead of Binyamin Netanyahu, Mahmoud Abbas and Jordan's King Abdullah II. Egyptian bloggers said the photo was "unprofessional" and said it an example of deception towards the people of Egyptl; others said the photo was an attempt to distract attention from Egypt's waning role in the. However, Osama Saraya, the editor-in chief, defended the decision saying "The expressionist photo is...a brief, live and true expression of the prominent stance of President Mubarak in the Palestinian issue, his unique role in leading it before Washington or any other."[6]
See also
References
- ^ a b c d Country profiles: Egypt BBC
- ^ a b c "Plus ca Change: The Role of the Media in Egypt's First Contested Presidential Elections", TBS
- ^ a b c d e f g h Freedom House 2007 report
- ^ a b c d Reporters Without Borders 2008 report
- ^ Egypt bans 'blasphemous' magazine, BBC News, April 8, 2009
- ^ http://www.almanar.com.lb/newssite/NewsDetails.aspx?id=154610&language=en
This article incorporates public domain material from The World Factbook. CIA.
External links
- Egypt News (Gornaly.com) (state-run)
- Egypt Radio Television Union (ERTU) (state-run)
- Al-Mihwar (private via satellite)
- Al-Ahram (state-run)
- Template:En icon Al-Ahram Weekly (state-run)
- Al-Jumhuriyah (state-run)
- Al-Messa (pro-government)
- Al-Wafd (opposition)
- Al-Ahaly (opposition)
News agency
- Middle East News Agency (MENA) (state-run)
