Академический Документы
Профессиональный Документы
Культура Документы
Media Monitor 06
(September - October 2013)
Preface The Research Section of al Sawt al Hurr, the Arab Network for Media Support, produces the Media Monitor on a bi-monthly basis. These reports document and describe developments in the Egyptian media, such as the emergence or disappearance of media outlets (including satellite channels, newspapers and news websites), as well as developments pertaining to the enabling environment for Egyptian media, such as legal, economic, political and social developments that affect the dynamism, quality and diversity of the media landscape. With these reports, al Sawt al Hurr aims to provide media workers, researchers, academics and anyone interested in the field of media in Egypt with a systematic description and analysis of the rapid developments that take place in this sector.
Research team: Eman Kheir Media developments Al Shaimaa Alazab Operational research Please send any reactions, suggestions or other relevant information to info@asahnetwork.org
2 Media Monitor 08
Part I
2. Newspapers
Article no. 51 of the former constitution guarantees freedom of the press, printing and visual and printed publications. Egyptians, whether private or public individuals, were given the right to own and issue newspapers in addition to establishing visual media outlets and digital media. A draft article of the new constitution currently under development sets out that the state shall guarantee the independence of media outlets owned by the people to ensure equality, objectivity and equal opportunities in addressing public opinion. Developments The security forces closed and sealed the office of Hurriya wa Adela, the newspaper of the Freedom and Justice Party affiliated to the Muslim Brotherhood, without prior legal notice, according to the official website of the party. The security forces seized all the contents of the headquarters. This decision came after the court decision to seize all properties owned by the Muslim Brotherhood; the headquarters of the newspaper was closed because it was a property of the Muslim Brotherhood, and not because of its press capacity. The al Ahram Foundation decided to continue printing Hurriya wa Adela, despite the fact that its accumulated debt to al Ahram now reaches 9 million EGP.
Media Monitor 08
Editorial Developments The newly formed Supreme Council of the Press has authorized Omar Samy, General Manager of al Ahram Establishment, to act as chairman of the Board after al Ahrams General Assembly deposed the previous chairman Mamdouh al Wali. The Supreme Council of the Press also decided that all chairs of Boards of Directors of stateowned newspapers, whose legal terms ended on June 3, 2013, will continue exercising their authority until the Council agrees on conditions and standards of extension or systems for choosing their replacements. The Council also planned to form a committee to receive proposals from journalists with regard to the guidelines for choosing the Chairs of Boards of Directors. The council reinstated Gamal Abdulrahim in his post as editor-in-chief of al Gomhuria stateowned newspaper in compliance with the sentence of the Administrative Court, revoking the decision of the previous Supreme Council of the Press and the President of the dissolved Shura Council. The Council referred the problem of the illegally suspended editors-in-chief of three of al Ahrams publications to its member Dr. Nour Farahat, for legal advice. The council sent the resignation submitted by Mohamed Khrajah, editor-in-chief of al Ahram al Mesai evening newspaper for advice to the Committee of the Press and Journalists Affairs before issuing a final decision. The Group of State-owned Newspapers has demanded that the Supreme Council for the Press develop specific and clear standards related to the choice of editors-in-chief and other managers based on professional experience, success and good reputation, rather than on their political affiliation. The group suggested in its statement that the Supreme Council for the Press should seek the opinion of a committee in relation to choosing Chairs of Boards of Directors and editorsin-chief, and such a committee should include journalists of a variety of ages and backgrounds. Protests and demonstrations Journalists of the Radio & TV Magazine threatened to begin a sit-in because Essam al Amir, the Chairman of the Egyptian Radio and Television Union suggested the possibility to change the magazine from a printed into an electronic version because of its financial crisis which has caused its editors not to be paid for more than a year. They are also protesting the reduction of expenditure, the attempt to shut the weekly sports supplement Maspero Sports, and the sacking of some freelance technicians, according to the journalists of the magazine. Ahmed al Hadery, the Deputy Editor in Chief of the magazine, mentioned that the journalists of the magazine are working in very poor conditions, especially in the editing room. In addition, neither salaries nor bonuses have been paid. 70 journalists from state-owned newspaper al Messa announced that they will begin a strike as of November 2013 because they have not been paid in seven months. The journalists sent their notice to the Chairman of the Board Mostafa Hadeeb, and they said they will send a copy to the Prime Minister, the Supreme Council of the Press and the Egyptian Syndicate of Journalists. They also threatened to take escalatory measures if their demands were ignored.
Youssri Hassan, the deputy of the editor-in-chief announced the formation of a committee called Journalists against Failure. He said that the mission of this committee would be to set the programs of development and training to reverse the decline in professionalism, and to monitor the financial and administrative performance of institutions. Hassan demanded his colleagues in the institution Dar el-Tahrir join the committee. Legal Entanglements Journalist Ahmed abu Dera of al Masry al Youm was released in Sinai on a bail of 200 EGP and his sentence was suspended for six months. In September 2013 Ahmed abu Dera was sent to the military court on accusations of taking photographs in a restricted area and spreading false news related to the operations of the army in Sinai that weakened trust in the state. Emad abu Zaid, a reporter of al Ahram in Beni Suef, was arrested on 12 September on suspicion of spreading false news that threatens public security. He was subsequently released pending investigation. Acts of violence against journalists and media institutions The supporters of deposed president Mohamed Morsi attacked the staff of ERTU and al Hayat private satellite TV channel during demonstrations on Friday September 13, 2013 in the Nasr City area of Cairo. They also seized equipment and destroyed a live transmission camera. On September 19 2013, a group of armed men affiliated to Islamist groups, who had taken control of the village of Kerdassa, arrested journalists Mohamed abu Daif, Abdulwahab al Lewa, Mahmoud al Garhi and photographer Mahmoud Sabri from al Watan, and about 15 photographers and three vehicles belonging to al Hayat in an ambush. The journalists were taken away in micro-buses guarded by armed men on motorcycles. The journalists were detained for one hour, and their identity cards and equipment were confiscated. During this time one of the employees of al Hayat fainted. They were released and their cards and equipment were returned to them by the police and armed forces when they entered the village. Youm7 journalist Hatem Gamal Mohamed Saber disappeared while covering the demonstrations on 6 October in Ramses Square. His whereabouts remain unknown, and it has been impossible to contact him. Journalist and political activist Khaled Dawoud was physically attacked during the demonstrations of Friday October 4, 2013, and was hospitalized for a life-saving operation.
3. Multimedia Trends
Because of the dramatic increase in the number of media outlets and in light of increased competition and rapid technological developments, most newspapers and television channels are now using multimedia tools to reach out to their audiences. Coordination is taking place between private satellite TV channel CBC and al Masry al Youm, with newspaper reporters working alongside CBC reporters as correspondents for the news on television.
6 Media Monitor 08
Similarly, private satellite TV channel al Nahar is coordinating with the reporters of Youm7 to cover events. The websites of ONA and al Mogaz are increasing their spread by offering news toolbars that are compatible with browsers such as Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox and Microsoft Internet Explorer, allowing readers to read the news from the toolbar without having to access the website directly. www.hoqook.com is providing a new service on its website: audible reports, which allows visitors to listen to articles. www.almogaz.com website is now covering live broadcasts of some satellite TV channels and of some state owned and independent radio stations, including internet Radio Sawa, Radio FM, Radio Middle East and BBC TV. Read the news is a recent application for the Egyptian market for Android smartphones and tablets, which collects and collates information from Arabic newspapers, providing it to the reader. The new application was developed by technology company ITIDA through a program to support small and medium-sized companies in 2013. Youm7 launched a new English language website called Cairo Post: http://thecairopost. youm7.com/
will be scrutinized by Aswats editorial team to verify their validity for publication, taking into consideration the following points: the materials exclusivity; objectivity; diversity of opinion; accuracy of information; and clarity of thought. Al Watan privately owned newspaper has added a new service for its visitors and followers who have websites in order to quickly obtain news and follow recent developments in various fields. Owners of websites can now log into services for owners of websites and choose the sections that they want to follow in terms of news and recent updates. They can then copy and paste the relevant code to their website in order to have a mini-portal on their own website. This service is free. The number of Facebook users in Egypt increased by about 41% during the first nine months of 2013, in comparison to the same period of 2012, to reach a total of 16 million users, equivalent to about half of the internet users and 19% of the total population of Egypt, according to the annual report of E-Marketing Egypt, which specializes in e-competition studies. According to the latest report of the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology, the number of total internet users in Egypt decreased by 0.39% by the end of July to reach 35.8 million users, representing 42.8% of the population, in comparison with 35.9 million users in the previous month, but it had increased on an annual basis by 15.4%, in comparison with 31 million users in July 2012.
Media Monitor 08
Abdulhamid Khaled, Deputy of the Administrative Authority, has fired some employees from the specialized TV channels of ERTU and sent others to the police on accusations of financial corruption. The Maspero Coordination Group, which is formed from staff of the Radio and TV Union, announced in its first conference entitled Egyptian media and the inevitability of change its founding statement in addition to discussing methods of developing the national media. The group will work on restructuring the Radio and TV Union without harming the staff, drafting a code of conduct and enforcing it, combating all forms of corruption, whether financial, administrative or media corruption, and will also work to support the newly formed syndicate of the media, which is in the process of being established. In the light of the austerity policy adopted by Maspero, heads of sections, channels and broadcast networks have been instructed not to allow any Maspero staff to occur travel expenses abroad. If accepting any official invitations from abroad, the host entity shall bear all the expenses. The Minister of Information Doria Sharef al Deen made changes in the leadership of Channels I and II, and Egyptian satellite channels. The union is still witnessing protests because of the current financial crisis.
7. Commercial satellite TV
Private satellite TV channels have in the news regularly during his period. Some were criticized for not abiding by professional standards. New channels Honest TV, a new satellite channel, started broadcasting in September. The channel is headed by Director Yahia Momtaz. MBC has announced the appointment of Mohamed Abdulmetaa as General Manager. This is a new post to be based in Cairo. Mohamed Abdulmetaa was formerly head of al Hayat network and previously worked for Mehwar channel. The Administrative Court officially stopped the broadcast of channels al Jazeera Mubasher Masr, Yarmuk, al Quds and Ahrar 25. This comes in light of accusations leveled against these channels of threatening the peace and spreading rumors in addition to false and misleading news that could lead to sedition. The Ministers of Investment, Communications and Information Technology and Information decided in late August 2013 to consider al Jazeera Mubasher Masr as a channel working in Egypt without legal grounds or professional standards, and it is no longer authorized to operate in Egypt. The three Ministers asked the concerned bodies to act on this decision. An administrative court issued a sentence to stop the broadcast of Islamic satellite TV channel al Hafez, the content for which is produced by al Baraheen. Egyptian security forces entered the office of Turkish satellite TV channel TRT on 10 September 2013 and confiscated equipment due to the lack of documents related to the authorization of the channel.
The Media Free Zone Authority decided to amend the decision to shut down satellite TV channel al Faraeen from a final shutdown to a temporary shutdown for two months, after the apology of the owner. The channel was shut down and its authorization was withdrawn due to not abiding by professional standards. This decision came after the first episode of the program Hala Masuliyity, presented by Mortada MansourHalla, as Mortada Mansour exposed many political and public figures in Egypt to disrespect, committing slander and libel against them. Mona al Shazly, anchor of the program Gomla Mufida on MBC Masr was released to her residence regarding her case for insulting the judiciary, from when she worked at private TV satellite channel Dream.
8. Freedom of Expression
Draft article no. 48 of the new constitution ensures freedom of thought and expression, stating that everyone has the right to expression in speech, writing, photography or anything related to the means of expression and publishing. The American Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) granted its International Press Freedom Award 2013 to Bassem Youssef, anchor of al Barnameg on CBC, as part of honoring four journalists who have been jailed or suffered other forms of repression due to exposing the facts in Ecuador, Egypt, Turkey and Vietnam. In a statement, CPJ stated that Bassem Youssef had been subjected to legal investigation because of his satirical program, which is considered a vehicle for free expression. CPJ added that the show has more than 40 million Egyptian and Arab viewers when it is televised, and it uses sharp humor to report on and critique government failures to improve the economy and public services.
with regulating the media and the press in Egypt. This authority will be independent and its members will not be appointed by the government. It will be legally constituted and its mission will be to protect freedom of expression and safeguard media organizations, publishing houses and news websites from monopolistic practices. Alongside this supreme authority, two national councils will be created: the first to administer the media and the second to administer the state-owned press. These two councils will only address administrative issues with regard to newspapers, radio and television stations and media websites. They will be independent of the supreme authority for the media and will not be supervised by it. Mohamed al Selmawy also stated that the Shura Council, which will be like the Senate under the new constitution, will not have any dealings with the press or any jurisdiction in it. The role of the Shura Council will end with the drafting of the new constitution, and the House of Representatives will issue legislation relating to that. Al Selmawy proposed that the funding of the independent press should be subject to oversight from the Central Auditing Organization (CAO). The Supreme Council of the Press The Supreme Council of the Press, during its first meeting in October, revoked a recommendation issued in October 2012 that set the age of retirement at 60, and applied instead the provision of article no. 61 of law no. 96, which allows yearly extensions until the age of 65. Osama Ayoub, the Secretary-General of the Council, decided to offer support of 300 thousand EGP to the Egyptian Syndicate of Journalists (ESJ) to contribute to solving the problems of journalists of party affiliated and privately owned newspapers in addition to newspapers that are no longer operating. The Council demanded that all national newspapers review their situation in relation to the journalists who have submitted grievances regarding the non-extension of their services as of October 2012. The Council also upheld the employment of 25 journalists by the National Company for Distribution, and stated that these journalists should now be paid by the company, rather than by the Council.
that although what Rashwan had stated that an agreement with the army had been made to let the journalists pass on presentation of their press card, the army has claimed that official permission from the Syndicate is required. Khaled al Balshy, a member of the Board of ESJ, demanded an independent judicial committee to investigate the deaths of more than six journalists and the assaults of many others while they were performing their duties. To date, none of the assault cases following the 25th of January Revolution have been addressed. The Husseiny abu Deif Committee to Protect the Profession of Journalism has condemned through activist Alaa Zaghloul the sentence issued against Ahmed abu Dera of al Masry al Youm. He concluded that the committee will organize an event, to be announced later, to denounce the sentence issued and to reject military trials for civilians in general. Hanan Fakry, another member of the Board of ESJ, stated that the Syndicate refuses to send journalists to the courts in general, whether civilian or military, especially in cases related to the publication of news and reports. She added that the ESJ is the entity authorized to question journalists, not the Public Prosecution or the military judiciary. She said that since its formation, the Syndicate has been struggling to prevent civil or military trials of journalists for publications and continues to do so in the constitution that is currently being amended by the Committee of Fifty. The Electronic Journalism Syndicate (EJS) announced of the establishment of the Internet Radio Union, in which every station will be represented by one seat in the union. The Syndicate of Media Professionals, currently being formed, has honored a number of journalists and photojournalists working for Egyptian television and independent newspapers, who covered the events in Kerdassa and the May 15th Bridge that occurred in September 2013. The Board of the Egyptian Syndicate of Journalists has approved the granting of unemployment benefit for a limited time to colleagues working for suspended newspapers or newspapers that are not publishing. Such journalists should submit applications to the Syndicate in accordance with strict conditions and controls that guarantee that they are not working elsewhere.
13
Forming the first Association for Reporters in Kafr el-Sheikh, Amr Seda, the President of the Association stated at its first meeting that the association was concerned with the affairs of reporters and journalists in Kafr el-Sheikh. There are 15 members of the Board of Directors, and there are 50 members of the association. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the Center for Law and Democracy published a manual on international standards of media legislation in the Arab world. It analyzes international standards of freedom of the media and assesses the extent to which the legal regulations that govern the media in Arab countries correspond with international standards. This manual has been produced to support journalists and activists in the Arab world in their struggle for freedom of the press and media reform in the region. The manual also offers solutions and proposals to address the challenges that face Arab journalists based on international standards. Jim Boumelha, the president of the IFJ, stated that: Arab journalists and their syndicates face enormous challenges as a result of disputes between political factions, social conflicts and pressures resulting from the benefits of change. Therefore, providing a full manual related to the reform of media laws and regulations is considered a necessary support for them to build a new press culture that is able to put an end to the laws of aggression that control the flow of information. The Committee for Defending the Independence of the Press demanded that the Supreme Council of the Press solve the crisis of al Ahrar party-affiliated newspaper, which was shut down due to financial and administrative corruption, leading to all its journalists being fired. On 3 October, the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS) launched a new special report called Surrounding the Truth. The report monitors and analyzes patterns of violations against media professionals covering the events and confrontations that took place in the country between 30 June and the end of August 2013. The report notes that in the past, Egyptian journalists faced harassment from the government security forces, but they are now facing threats from others such as supporters of the Muslim Brotherhood, and supporters of the interim government. The report argues that the transitional authorities and the Muslim Brotherhood may have a common ground, which is to make the media responsible for their political failures. According to the violations documented in this report, CIHRS notes that the results of quantitative analysis show that the majority of violations were the responsibility of the Muslim Brotherhood and its supporters (85 violations), but the qualitative analysis shows that the most serious and violent violations were conducted by the security forces and the army, especially in relation to killings, which included a number of Egyptian and foreign journalists, as the security forces were proven to be involved in at least two incidents, as well as detention procedures that targeted dozens of journalists (40 cases). 13 journalists were still in custody at the time of the preparation of this report. The Husseiny abu Deif Committee for the protection the profession of journalism announced its full solidarity with the 40 journalists who were arbitrarily sacked by private newspaper al Masry al Youm.
14
Media Monitor 08
Part II
Broadcast media and professional and ethical standards
A report on the media performance of four satellite TV channels between September 10 and 25, 2013
Study prepared by al Sawt al Hurr, the Arab Network for Media Support, in cooperation with the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies.
15
According to many studies, television is the most influential media in a society with high levels of illiteracy. In Egypt, talk shows are the first source of information for a broad section of the public, and they have a great impact on public opinion through their presentation of various points of view, including those of politicians, academics, journalists and other popular and respected public figures. For this reason, al Sawt al Hurr, the Arab Network for Media Support, chose to carry out a study related to the performance of selected broadcast media and the way in which it contributes positively or negatively to public opinion and acceptance of different viewpoints and attitudes. In particular, al Sawt al Hurr chose to look at two aspects: the type of guests invited to these television programs and the behavior of the talk show hosts. Through identifying the type of guests hosted on these shows, general indications or conclusions can be drawn regarding the orientation of specific talk shows and perhaps of the channels on which they appear. By analyzing the ways in which the hosts of these shows deal with their guests, conclusions regarding the extent of compliance of these media outlets to professional media standards can be made, particularly in relation to diversity, balance, objectivity, incitement of hatred or violence, and exercising any exclusion or discrimination. For this study, a sample of four satellite television channels was chosen, taking into consideration their viewing figures, their political orientation and their ownership: state owned Nile News, Qatar-based al Jazeera Mubasher Masr and al Hayat and CBC, both privately owned. Their daily programs were followed during peak viewing hours from 8pm until midnight over a period of two weeks, beginning on September 10, 2013, and ending on the 25th of the same month. A total of 169 program segments were monitored: 43 on Nile News, 46 on al Jazeera Mubasher Masr, 47 on al Hayat and 33 on CBC. The research methodology of this study was developed in collaboration with the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies. The institutes research team, supervised by Ms Mona Nader has wide experience in monitoring media, and conducted the actual monitoring, while the analysis was carried out by al Sawt al Hurr.
16
Media Monitor 08
17
7. Talk show hosts often represented absent opinions when the topic under discussion related to the interests of ordinary Egyptian citizens, such as problems relating to day to day life. However, hosts on Nile News, CBC and al Hayat did not represent such opinions when these related to the views of the Muslim Brotherhood and its supporters. 8. The use of inappropriate words and gestures was repeatedly observed on all four channels, and is worth mentioning that these words did not always emanate from guests, but sometimes from hosts. While Nile News, CBC and al Hayat used such inappropriate words to attack the Muslim Brotherhood and its supporters, al Jazeera Mubasher Masr used such words to attack what it referred to as supporters of the coup. 9. Some of the most important findings of this study are around hate speech and incitement to violence, which were committed by all the sample channels.
Nile News
The period monitored was the evening period, from 8pm until 12am. This period includes news, The Talk of the Picture program and the daily talk show Here is Cairo. 43 segments were monitored. Guests: The channels hosted nearly 80 people in their studios. The vast majority of the guests were writers, deputy editors-in-chief of newspapers, economists, security experts, heads of political parties and spokespersons of other parties (including the Nour Party, the only party representing the Islamist movement in the Committee of Fifty Members, media professors and researchers into political and Islamic affairs. Government representatives made limited appearances; during the two weeks monitored only the Ministers of Supply, Local Development and Education were hosted. The channels hosted about 50 people over the telephone, most of them correspondents from different governorates of Egypt and military experts in order to specifically follow the security situation in Sinai and some areas in Giza, such as Kerdassa and Nahya. Calls were conducted with correspondents to validate news developments and to gather more details. 1. Balance and diversity in presenting different views on the issue at hand: Most of the talk shows on Nile News lacked a commitment to balance and diversity in the selection of guests.The monitoring found that balance was not achieved 30 times (in 69.77% of cases). In such cases, the channel brought two guests with the same intellectual background or with very similar points of view, and the host did not fill the gap by adopting an opposing point of view but was instead biased to the point of view of the guest. Even when the host tried to convey the opposing point of view it was done in a sarcastic way. Nile News fully achieved balance and diversity ten times (in 23.26% of cases), and achieved it to some extent three times (in 6.97% of cases). In these cases, the hosts questions were objective and unbiased, and guests with different opinions were given the opportunity to present their points of view on certain issues; the views of the citizens on both sides were also presented, through comments on Facebook, phone calls or video reports designed to establish the views of citizens. It is worth noting that the issues for which balance and variety in selecting the guests were achieved were for example re18 Media Monitor 08
lated to the situation of Egyptians abroad with regard to the new constitution, the judicial arrest law in universities, proposals to amend the constitution that could increase media freedom, and economic issues, which are less controversial. In generally, the guests and hosts of Nile News were supporters of the army and the police, and were always opponents of the MB. 2. Respecting the opposing views presented: The research found that 35 segments (81.40%) on Nile News didnt include any opposing views, as the segments were just narrations of the news, or the guests of the programs had the same point of view as the host, as mentioned above. This was clear through the questions asked during the segment. Six segments respected opposing views (13.95%), and these dealt with topics with limited scope for opposing views, such expert economic information presented by an economist, or segments designed for the start of the academic year. In only two segments (4.65%) were opposing views not respected. One of these two segments involved discussion of the news, presented in pictures. One picture was of a group of Cairo University students engaging with the police during a visit of the Minister of Higher Education; the host said that they were MB students, and although the guest made it clear that they were students opposing the application of the law of judicial arrest inside the university, the host insisted on her position. 3. Use of improper words or gestures: The guests and hosts on Nile News did not use improper words or gestures in 86.05% of cases, but in four segments (9.30% of cases) there were exchanges of improper words between guests, and in two segments (4.65% of cases), some negative gestures and mockery was made against the MB. * 4. Presenting the absent point of view: The results of the monitoring show that 22 segments (51.16%) on Nile News did not present the absent viewpoint; the host supported the views of the guests, and thus the whole show reflected a single perspective. Even when an absent and opposing viewpoint was presented it was done cynically. Ten segments (23.26%) did not include an absent viewpoint because of the nature of the segment: these segments didnt include any contentious issues, or the subject of the segment was not related to the MB or their supporters. For cases in which absent views were presented, they were as follows: in six segments (13.95%) the host presented the absent viewpoint in the show, and in five segments (11.63%) the host did so to some extent; however, in such cases the absent viewpoint always represented a large segment of the public. For example, when the guest was Minister for Local Development, discussing his plans for issues such as traffic, street cleaning and so on, the host adopted the point of view of the average citizen.
* In an episode of Here is Cairo on 15 September 2013, a guest talked about the occupation of the headquarters of State Security by MB-supporters who raised the banner of al-Qaeda, commenting that this showed their bad intentions, at which point the voice of the heard is heard saying yes, yes. 19
5. Instigation or incitement of hatred or exclusion against any party: More than half of the segments that were monitored on Nile News did not display any form of incitement to hatred (60.47%). 11 segments (25.58%) displayed incitement to hatred, and sixsegments (13.95%) displayed incitement to hatred and exclusion to some extent. Such incitement included linking the MB with Hamas, stating that the MB supported Hamas and was helping them to dig tunnels and commit violence in Sinai, and that the MB were plotting to destroy the Egyptian state.* Another example related to the position of Turkish President Recep Erdogan in opposition to the events following 30 June, about which one guest stated that even those Egyptians who were not strongly patriotic would not stay silent in response to Erdogans anti-Egyptian statements, adding that all foreign Arabic-language channels had an agenda and were seeking to implement specific plans.
Al Hayat
The monitoring included the program al Hayat al Youm, which means Life Today, broadcast on al Hayat channel from 8pm to 11pm or later. 47 segments were monitored from the al Hayat al Youm show. The first segment of the program is the news: the host narrates the news, verifying it and gathering additional details through phone calls with concerned persons, without giving her opinion.* Guests: The channel hosted nearly 110 guests throughout the monitoring period, and generally it did not repeat guests: columnist Abdallah Sinawi was the only guest who appeared more than once during the monitoring period, while Mohammed al Salmawi, the spokesperson for the Committee of Fifty Membersappeared once in the studio and once over the phone to answer questions related to the drafting of the new constitution. The channel was characterized by the variety of its guests and their political and religious backgrounds, but the vast majority of guests were broadly liberal. Despite this, al Hayat was the only channel that hosted over the phone MB leader Mohamed Ali Basher and other significant MB members after the arrest of most of its leaders. It was also the channel that hosted the highest number of leaders from the Nour Party. The channel hosted the highest number of prominent figures, including a number of ministers and heads of political parties, as well as presidents of Egyptian universities, as the academic year began during the monitoring period and many thorny issues related to the universities and their safety were discussed. The channel hosted the highest number of women among the channels monitored. Life Today hosted Sekina Fouad, the presidents advisor for womens affairs, ambassador Mervat al Telawi, the president of the WomensCouncil, a female member of the Committee of FiftyMembers drafting the constitution, in addition to Amal Abdulhady, the Chair of the Board of Trustees for a new womens foundation to discuss womens issues in the transition. 1. Balance and diversity in presenting different views on the issue at hand: The channel achieved diversity and balance 25 times in the monitoring period (53.19% of cases), compared to 16 times when it was not achieved (34.04%) and six times when it was partly achieved (12.77%). It was clear in the monitoring that the more balanced and diverse segments in terms of the presentation of different points of view were the first parts of the show that were devoted to the narration of the daily news, as they reflected different views and allowed the public to comment. The segments in which the balance was not realized involved the host bringing on a guest who supported the government and the army, with whom the host would agree. When balance did occur it appeared to be merely a formality, with the host inviting opposing parties but giving more time to one party at the expense of the other. For example, in the episode discussing the articles of the draft constitution related to not trying civilians in military courts, the host gave
* al Hayat is a channel owned by al Hayat Television Network, a private network owned by businessman and politician Sayed al Badawi, President of al Wafd Party. However, the channel is described as a private channel, and is not the mouthpiece of the al Wafd Party. It is worth noting that, according to the latest report on viewers conducted by IpsosMediaCT, the Media Content and Technology Research Specialists, al Hayat has the highest number of followers and viewers in Egypt. 21
the greatest opportunity to speak to Brigadier General Sayed Hashem, during which he expressed his point of view without any interruption, at the expense of the other guest, Mona Seif, a member of a group campaigning against military trials for civilians. Another example of balance as a formality is the segment presenting news about marches of the MB without being accompanied by video reports or photos of these marches. 2. Respecting the opposing views presented: The guests of the channel tended to haveconverging views and similar political and ideological backgrounds. On 28 occasions (59.57%) no opposing views were presented, so it cannot be said whether they were respected. Opposing views were respected 14 times (29.78%), and fivesegments (10.63%) didnt include respect for the opinions of others. 3. Use of improper words or gestures: 68% of the time the hosts and guests on Life Today did not use improper words, but in 19.14%of cases while improper words may not have been used, there were hints of negativity towards the MB. On one occasion a guest used improper words that were not fit to be on air. For example, while discussing the son of Khairat al Shater and the claim that he received 8 billion dollars from Barack Obama, the guest sarcastically said: In fact I wanted to ask him, did he receive it in cash or did he sign a check? in response to which the host laughed, rather than presenting an opposing viewpoint. Six situations were also recorded (12.59%) in which amusing gestures were made by the host in reaction to comments mocking the MB and their rule. 4. Presenting the absent point of view: The biggest professional mistake made byal Hayat in the monitoring periodwas its lack of interest in presenting absent perspectives. Absent points of view were presented in 34.04% of cases, and by coincidence absent points of view were not presented in 34.04% of cases also. In 31.91% of cases (15 segments) there was no need to present absent points of view as both sides of the story were represented.The host of the program was always willing to showthe absent perspective when the absent party was the public, whether the family of martyrs, ordinary citizens, students of schools or universities, or the Nour Party, but when the MB or those affiliated to it the host only twice presented this viewpoint. 5. Instigation or incitement to hatred or exclusion against any party: The general trend of the program was not to incite hatred or exclusion of any party. In 70.22% of cases there was no incitement to hatred or exclusion, in contrast to 14 segments (29.78%) including this element: 12 cases of statements made against the MB and Hamas, and two cases of statements made against Turkey and its ambassador in Cairo.
the MB were responsible for the attempted assassination of the Minister of the Interior, although investigations were not concluded. She also made comments regarding the USAs support for Islamist regimes, although these regimes commit terrorist acts.
23
2. Respecting the opposing views presented: The results shows that 33 segments by (71.74%) did not present conflicting views: this could be because all the guests and hosts agreed in their opposition to Morsis deposal, because the episode focused on a single guest, or because the episode was covering pro-MB demonstrations in the governorates. The monitoring shows that in six segments (13.04%), in conflicting opinions were respected, and in four (8.70%), conflicting opinions were somewhat respected. It was also found that found that in three segments (6.52%), guests offering opposing opinions were not respected; these episodes tendedto get out of the control of the host due to the different views of the guests, the intensification of the debate between them and the lack of accepting each other views. 3. Use of improper words or gestures: The results show that 35 segments (76.09%) were free of improper words, as the host and the guests spoke in very calm tones. This could be due to the fact that 70% of the segments asmentioned above didnt include any opposing views. The monitoring also shows that when guests were hosted with different ideological views, the discussion tended to intensify to the point that one of the guests left the studio. 11 segments (23.91%) involvedthe use of improper words between the guests; for example, one guest described the Minister of Defense, First Lieutenant Abdulfatah al Sisi as al Sisi the fascist killer.* 4. Presenting the absent point of view: The absent point of view was presented in 19 episodes (41.30%); the host never spoke about the supporting view of the military, but strongly attacked the armys use of what he termed excessive violence. The absent viewpoint was presented in six episodes by (13.04%), and in 14 segments (30.43%) it was presented to some extent. It was noted that the majority of those segments were related to the new constitution and the Committee of Fifty Members, to statements by the Minister of Higher Education about the security of universities and the judicial arrest law, to talks about the Egyptian judiciary, or to the passing of a law on the minimum level of salaries. In a few cases, the segment discussed the legal status of the MB or compared the Attorney General in the Morsi era to the present Attorney General, who has been widelydescribed as the Attorney General for hire, a reference to his perceived lack of neutrality. In this case, the host played the role of the absent party objectively. In seven segments (15.22%) no points of view were displayed due to the nature of the segments. 5. Instigation or incitement to hatred or exclusion against any party: Most of the segments (78.26%) did not incite hatred. In ten cases (21.74%) incitement was found, and came from both sides, whether in support of or against the MB. One guest described the MB as a terrorist, fascist, racist and non-peaceful group, and stated that the group has a different religion from Islam as we know it. This guest also stated that the MB is responsible for all violent events that have occurred in Egypt since June 28.
* On 17 September, Dr. Amr Hashem Rabie left the studio in protest against the behavior of the host and demanded an apology.On 11 September 2013, during a discussion related to judicial arrests, Dr. Rabie attacked Hassan Abdullah, a teacher at the University of Damietta for his views, as well as attacking the host for not letting him express his opinion. 24 Media Monitor 08
On the other hand, guests who support the MB described the dispersals of Rabaa and al Nahda as genocide by the armed forces. These guests also strongly criticized the military rule and encouraged the masses to stand against it. In other episodes, there was no explicit incitement or exclusion, but one guest attacked the authorities who created the bloody coup.
25
Al Jazeera announced the documentary series entitled The Witnesses of the Massacre; each episode included an eye witness description of the dispersals of Rabaa and al Nahda. Al Jazeera has launched an attack on the Egyptian media through its reports, holding a seminar on media coverage during the Egyptian crisis. Al Jazeera focused on the demonstrations of the MB that violated the curfew, and also on the marches of students supporting the MB from universities and schools in different governorates of Egypt. It also allocatedlong periods for them to be broadcast live.
CBC
The evening period from 8pm until 12pm includes the airing of programs Hunna al Asima presented by Lamis al Hadidy and the program Possible presented by Khairy Ramadan; however he was on vacation during the monitoring period and only returned on the final day. During his absence his colleague Dina Abdulrahman presented his program. Guests: Throughout the monitoring period, the channel hosted 43 guests in the studio and 122 people via the phone, in addition to receiving many calls from citizens in some episodes.The channels guests were very diverse, and no guests appeared more than once during the monitoring period. However, the channel didnt host any guests from Islamist groups, Nour Party members, MB members or sympathizers, or anyone opposing the events following June 30. The one exception was an episode of Hunna al Asima marking the beginning of the academic year, which hosted the deputy presidents of the Universities of Cairo, Ain Shams and al Azhar and heads of the three student unions; host Lamis al Hadidy invited representatives of MB students to present their views, but the students refused to appear on the program. The channel exclusively hosted writer Mohamed Hassanein Heikal in a series of episodes that aired on Thursday instead of Hunna al Asima. The channel also hosted Mostafa al Faki, prominent economist Galal Amin, ambassador Ezzaldeen Shukri, four ministers and several police generals. 33 segments of Hunna al Asima were monitored, including phone calls for news coverage and different issues across a network of correspondents in various governorates, in addition to a diversity of public figures to comment on the news of the day or analyze the most important events. Economic issues took top priority for the program; for example, Hashem Ramez, the Governor of the Central Bank was hosted by telephone, as well as Maged Riad, the leader of the Association of Egyptian Businessmen in America, Mounir Fakhry, the Minister of Industry and Trade and Mohammed al Suwaidi, President of the Federation of Industries. Many of the calls discussed the recovery of the economy and steps to be taken to reverse the economic crisis. In second place was the discussion of security issues, especially events at Kerdassa, Delga and Nahia, followed by issues related to the security of universities. 1. Balance and diversity in presenting different views on the issues at hand: The monitoring shows that CBC didnt achieve the balance in 12 segments (36.36% of the total); for example, one of the segments was about the court ruling to ban the MB, and all the phone calls taken had the same point of view. Balance was not achieved in any subjects related to the MB, but it was achieved with regard to other subjects, such as the Committee of Fifty Membersand its proposals.
26 Media Monitor 08
Balance and diversity were achieved nine times (27.27%) and to some extent seven times (21.21%), through suitable presentation of the issue or via preparing a report presenting different views. Five segments monitored (15.15% of the total) were just comments on the news. 2. Respecting the opposing views presented: 69.70% of CBCsmonitored segments were news programs and did not involve the presentation of opposing views. In seven segments (21.21%), opposing views were respected through discussion and giving the opportunity for each party to speak. Three segments (9.09%) did not respect the opinions of the guests. One of these segments was an episode with the economist Galal Amin. Amin was asked about who could be president, and Amin said that he could see a lot of figures in the National Salvation Front and the Committee of Fifty Members, but the host did not let him continue and did not discuss his opinions, stating instead that many people hope for a civil president with a military background, such as Abdulfatah al Sisi. 3. Use of improper words or gestures: 24 segments (72.73%) were free from improper words, but improper words and expressions on the part of the hosts were note in nine segments (27.27%). One example that was repeated more than once in Hunna al Asima was the hosts comparison of the MB to insects and fleas, commenting on the news of the Hurriya wa Adela newspaper that these campaigns ravage the body of the regime as fleas do the body of the mad dog. She added that they are fleas and we all know how to kill the fleas, miming how to do so. Similar words and gestureswere repeated the following day, and again during a phone interview while the MB were trying to storm al Koba palace. 4. Presenting the absent point of view: CBC was the channel most committed to presenting the absent viewpoint. In 15 segments (45.45%) the host presented the viewpoint of the absent party, and in five segments by (15.15%) this was done to some extent. It should be noted that the vast majority of these segments were about the suffering of citizens, whether in terms of the economy, security or education levels, with the hosts presenting the views these people. During a phone discussion with the Assistant of the Minister of Interior, the channel also presented the viewpoint of people who feel that they are harassed by the police forces. The channel has adopted the view of Abdulfatah al Sisi as the leader of the revolution, but allows for the opinion of guests who do not see him in this way. Perhaps most notably, the channel presented the point of view of foreign journalists who accuse the Egyptian media ofspecifically excluding the MB. On the other hand, the monitoring found that eight segments (24.24%) did not present the absent point of view. Five segments (15.15%) did not deal with controversial issues with conflicting opinions. 5. Instigation or incitement to hatred or exclusion against any party: On 22 occasions (66.67%) no incitement to hatred was demonstrated.On seven occasions (21.21%) there was incitement, and in four segments (12.12%) there was some degree of incitement. For example, when discussing the international arm of the MB preparing for meetings in Turkey and Pakistan, the host commented that they are con27
vening in Turkey and Pakistan to consider how to destroy things. In another example, in the context of addressing chants opposing the former Supreme Mufti Ali Goma, the host said: [the MB] dont have religion or morals. Religion and morals are inseparable. Those are people who dont have morals oreducation; they dont have the ability to disagree with each other. On another program, one of the guests called the MB stupid and ignorant, saying that they have rabies.
28
Media Monitor 08
Channel
Balance and diversity: achieved 21.74% 6.97% 12.77% 21.21% 36.36% 15.15% 21.21% 0% 9.09% 34.04% 0% 29.78% 0% 10.63% 69.77 0% 13.95% 0% 5.65% 50.00% 21.74% 13.04% 8.70% 6.52% 71.74% 81.40% 59.57% 69.70%
Balance and diversity: partly achieved Balance and diversity: not achieved
Respecting the others opinion: partly achieved Respecting the others opinion: not achieved Respecting the others opinion: not applicable
6.52%
Nile News
23.26%
Al Hayat
53.19%
CBC
27.27%
Channel
Use of improper words to some extent 0% 4.65% 12.59% 0% 45.45% 34.04% 0% 15.15% 13.95% 11.63% 13.04% 30.43% 41.30% 51.16% 34.04% 24.24% 15.22% 23.26% 31.91% 15.15%
Presenting the absent point of view to some extent Not presenting the absent point of view Presenting the absent point of view not applicable
Inciting hatred or exclusion to some extent 21.74% 25.58% 29.78% 21.21% 0% 13.95% 0% 12.12%
76.09%
23.91%
Nile News
86.05%
9.30%
Al Hayat
68.00%
19.41%
CBC
72.73%
27.27%
29