{"id":26269,"date":"2021-09-15T09:50:30","date_gmt":"2021-09-15T09:50:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.anhri.info\/?p=26269"},"modified":"2021-09-15T10:19:02","modified_gmt":"2021-09-15T10:19:02","slug":"the-egyptian-media-in-a-week-issue-no-7-from-7-september-to-13-september-2021","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.anhri.info\/?p=26269&lang=en","title":{"rendered":"The Egyptian Media in a week, Issue No. 7, from 7 September to 13 September 2021"},"content":{"rendered":"

First: News websites<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Summary <\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“Masrawy” & “Youm7″\u2026 absence of awareness, “Sada El-Bald”\u2026 one-sided truth<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

. Masrawy, Youm7 and most of Egypt’s news websites<\/span> publish a news story that reads: \u201cEgypt succeeds in reducing inflation rates.\u201d<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The Cabinet’s Media Center said that Egypt succeeded in maintaining inflation rates within the central bank’s target range at a time when many countries in the world are witnessing a wave of rising inflation.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The center explained that the state had adopted rational economic and monetary policies during the past years, based on scientific studies, indicators and future expectations that took into account achieving stability in the prices of commodities that may witness increases at times, as well as setting interest rates in line with inflation targets, which makes Egypt in at the forefront of the emerging markets that have lowered the inflation rate.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Analysis:<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

This news piece topped the news in most of the websites, and its wordings are the same except in some ineffective points. All news websites reported that the government succeeded in reducing inflation rates, and all these reports are devoid of balance as they don\u2019t include any statements or comments from an independent expert about the validity of the reduction in inflation and whether citizens are really affected by this reduction when it comes to the commodity prices. What is strange here is that “Masrawy” website pointed out that the government has taken into account \u201cstabilizing the prices of commodities..\u201d and this needs more scrutiny so that the reader doesn\u2019t lose credibility of the piece. This reader, of course, can clearly see the difference between what he is experiencing (high prices) and what this news report says. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

. “Mobtada<\/span>” website publishes, on 7 September, a piece of news that reads: <\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

In pictures\u2026Distributing 96,000 different food cartons to the neediest families in Giza<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Ahmed Rashid, Governor of Giza, announced the launch of the convoy dedicated to Giza Governorate as part of the \u201cAbwab El-Khair\u201d convoy, which includes social assistance for the neediest families with a total of 96 thousand various food cartons, in addition to medical aid, stressing that the convoy is launched through “Tahya Masr” Fund in cooperation with The Ministry of Social Solidarity, with the participation of 20 civil society organizations and charities.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Analysis <\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

This is a propaganda piece that falls within promotional campaigns in an election. The story contains nothing but praise and commendation for what is offered to citizens through the government’s cooperation with the Tahya Masr Fund. The piece didn\u2019t mention that the Fund gets its money from the donations of the Egyptian citizens themselves. It also didn\u2019t mention the poverty rate in Egypt and the reason for such destitution, and this makes the piece lose its balance and objectivity and turns into a mere propaganda product.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The report’s link:<\/strong> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.mobtada.com\/details\/1084148<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

. Sada El-Bald<\/span> publishes, on 8 September, a news report that reads:<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“A police officer storms the house of an elderly man and assaults him in Alexandria<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The security services at the Ministry of Interior have revealed the details of what was circulated on one of \u201cFacebook\u201d pages, as a woman claimed that a quarrel had taken place in front of her father\u2019s house after he intervened trying to end it, adding that one of the Interior Ministry\u2019s men stormed the house of her elderly parents to investigate them into the quarrel before he assaulted her father in front of her and his grandchildren.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

After investigating the incident, the Ministry of the Interior found that on March 11, 2021 the Mina al-Basal Police Station in Alexandria received a report from the Emergency Police Department of a quarrel resulted in a fire that broke out inside a house, and accordingly a security force headed by the accused officer headed there to examine the matter”. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Analysis<\/b><\/span><\/span>:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The piece is based on the Ministry of Interior’s narrative alone to reveal the truth of the incident, although the ministry is a party in the case since the accused officer is the plaintiff. This makes the piece lose fairness and balance, as it didn\u2019t mention any statements from the woman who is a main party in the news story.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The report’s link:<\/strong> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.elbalad.news\/4956989<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

. Al-Dostor news<\/span> website publishes a report that says:<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Al-Moselhi: We worked 24 hours to continue the food supply chains depsite the coronavirus <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Dr. Ali Al-Moselhi, Minister of Supply and Internal Trade, participated in the closing sessions of the Egypt Forum for International Cooperation and Development Finance in its first edition 2021.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Al-Moselhi said: We worked around the clock to ensure that food supply chains continue to reach all citizens, and therefore we needed the participation of the private sector and took decisions that were not unilateral, but were based on the participation of all concerned parties from public and private sectors, to secure the production and logistics process from a very efficient distribution network “.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Analysis: <\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The news piece presents the statements of the Minister of Supply and Internal Trade regarding his great efforts and the 24-work a day, but the piece didn\u2019t provide any evaluation of this effort. The news’ editor didn\u2019t interview any expert to evaluate the providing of food to the poor in Egypt during the Coronavirus crisis, whether the majority of the poor obtained food supplies, and whether there any problems or issues. The piece is devoid of balance in presenting information and is content with introducing the statements of only one party, which is the Minister.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The report’s link:<\/strong> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.dostor.org\/3566429<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

. A special Annex on the coverage of the National Human Rights Strategy<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

With President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi launching the so-called National Strategy for Human Rights, we followed the news reports published about the strategy.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

We monitored some headlines and short excerpts from these reports so that the reader can try to form a point of view about the journalistic treatment of this incident, which some described as “historic”.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

* Al-Ahram Gate<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Launched by President Sisi to raise the dignity of Egyptian citizens\u2026 Details on the National Strategy for Human Rights document<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Diplomats and human rights activists applauded the National Human Rights Strategy, pointing out that it goes in line with the international human rights standards, and works to create a balance between the political, legal, economic and social dimensions of human rights.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

* Al-Masry Al-Youm<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Parliament\u2019s workforce Committee: The National Human Rights Strategy is an ambitious national roadmap<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

*Al-Shourouk news website<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Minister of Justice: The National Human Rights Strategy represents a paradigm shift in Egypt <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

*Youm7<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

The National Human Rights Strategy is the gateway to advancing the state’s obligations towards citizens<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

* Cairo 24 website<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

Ibrahim Issa on the launch of the National Human Rights Strategy: A historical scene<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Ambassador Ahmed Ihab Gamal El-Din on the launch of the National Human Rights Strategy: Egypt is on the right track and speaks the official language of human rights.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

* Al-Dostor news website<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

International reports highlight the “National Human Rights Strategy”<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The English-language newspaper “The National” reported that President Sisi renewed his commitment to establishing a “modern, civil, democratic state that respects its people and seeks their interests.”<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

* Sada El Balad<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

A parliamentarian: The National Human Rights Strategy is based on a national vision and belief to enhance human rights<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

* Masrawy<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

Amplifying the dignity of citizens\u2026 Parliamentarians applaud the launch of the National Human Rights Strategy<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Analysis<\/b><\/span><\/span>: <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

All eight websites praise and applaud the National Human Rights Strategy by citing many commentators, in what can be described as a journalistic miracle. Being different is a natural state among human beings, but here the Egyptian press made the miracle; everyone agreed on one thing without giving a single note, even a small one, on this strategy. The initiative talks about human rights and this certainly allows for a plurality of opinions and viewpoints, which is one of the main foundations in the principles of journalism: fairness and balance. But both are absent here. There isn\u2019t a single opposing opinion or a comment that criticizes the strategy.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

* Among this press coverage of the National Human Rights Strategy, there was a bright spot that appeared on Mada Masr addressing the same initiative. It published a report saying:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Al-Sisi launches the National Human Rights Strategy.. Bahgat: reflects a misdiagnosis of the challenges the country is facing\u2026 Al-Borai: not a declaration of a comprehensive national reconciliation, but it is a good step.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

For his part, Hossam Bahgat, director of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights (EIPR) asserted, in his interview with Mada Masr, that President Sisi\u2019s speech and all what has been published regarding the strategy is so far a misdiagnosis of the challenges facing the country. He explained that the basics of protecting human rights are: stopping violations, and holding accountable those responsible for these violations, and compensating the victims of these violations, so as to prevent the recurrence of these violations. But what we have today is that the people are the problem..\u201d <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Analysis <\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Mada Masr’s report clearly shows that there is an opposing opinion, even if it is one, regarding a certain issue, although there may be many other opinions that oppose the aforementioned initiative. The role of journalism is to reflect all the opinions of society so that the picture becomes objectively clear about any news story or issue. Here, Mada Masr shows balance and fairness in presenting the different views on the so-called the National Human Rights Strategy which received great coverage from all Egyptian media.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Mada Masr’s report:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

https:\/\/www.madamasr.com\/ar\/2021\/09\/11\/news\/u\/%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%b3%d9%8a%d8%b3%d9%8a-%d9%8a%d8%b7%d9%84%d9%82-%d8%a7%d9%84%d8%a7%d8%b3%d8%aa%d8%b1%d8%a7%d8%aa%d9%8a%d8%ac%d9%8a%d8%a9-%d8%a7%d9%84%d9%88%d8%b7%d9%86%d9%8a%d8%a9-%d9%84%d8%ad%d9%82\/<\/a> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Third: Talk shows<\/b><\/u><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

1- Media choir<\/span> and episodes of Tuesday 7 September 2021<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

This exceptional side title (heading) is chosen to monitor the introduction of the talk shows’ episodes that were broadcast on 7 September 2021; as all talk shows on this day address the same topic and present the same view using the same style. What only differs is the time they dedicated to speak about this topic, which ranged between 30 and 36 minutes for Lamis Al Hadidi, Tamer Amin, and Nashat Al Dehi, whereas the longest period of coverage came for Ahmed Moussa who exceeded an hour and 56 minutes.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

This day witnessed the Egyptian President Abdel Fattah Al-Sisi’s opening of Alexandria Port after the development and the delivery of the new train cars that were imported to develop the railway system.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

ANHRI’s comment: <\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

No mindful person can deny the economic importance of developing the maritime transport sector as one of the means of development given its positive impact on trade and economy, nor can he deny the urgent necessity to develop the railway sector, which suffers from a major deterioration that has led to many casualties over many years. But the role of media, if objective, is: to address and discuss how this development can be implemented, outline the alternative opportunities for its implementation and its cost, and evaluate the plan that has been approved for implementation (is the most ideal plan?)<\/span><\/span> This is especially in light of a critical economic situation as citizens still suffer from high prices, and the foreign debt has doubled to unprecedented levels, which necessitated broadcasters and media professionals to host other neutral voices other than those responsible for implementing these projects, so as to analyze the methods of implementation and sources of expenditure and the impact on the public debt, in compliance with the Clause No. (2) Of the Media Honor Charter, which obliges the media to be objective and balanced in handling issues and presenting point of views and not to give priority to special interests over professional and national considerations. Nonetheless, it seems that media presenters are competing in praise and commendation that they present only one point of view without taking into account any balance or objectivity. They also mixed their personal opinion with the information they presented without making any separation between them, in violation of the Code of Professional Conduct for Media Performance.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The episodes’ links:<\/strong> <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

* Lamis Al-Hadidi’s “Kelma Akhira” talk show<\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

* Tamer Amin’s “Akher Al-Nahar” program <\/a><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

* Nashaat Al-Dihi’s “Paper and Pen” program’s episode<\/span><\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

* “On My Responsibility” Program- Ahmed Mosa<\/a>
\n<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

2- “Akher Al-Nahar<\/span>” program- Tamer Amin- episode of Tuesday, 7 September 2021<\/b><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

During a telephone interview with media professional Siham Saleh, Tamer commented on a picture that he screened and that involves an insult against his media colleague Ibrahim Issa:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

“This is the (Facebook) page attributed to our colleague Siham Saleh, and that unfortunately posted a picture of our colleague Ibrahim Issa, and this is an offence that harms him. So we blamed Siham for this. It is her responsibility. “<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Siham said (disapproving this behavior): Captain Ayman Younes called me and said: (Siham, do call me “Soma the lover”?)<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Tamer laughed and said: What did you call Ayman Younis? …and continues to laugh<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Episode link:<\/strong><\/span><\/span><\/p>\n