9. The Transnationalisation of Information and Journalism: The Case of Arab Media

For more about this, see Boyd (1993), Alterman (1998), Sakr (2001), Rugh (2004), Guaaybess (2005), Hafez (2008), Kraidy and Khalil (2010).

The show “Editor in chief” ran on the first channel; in 2000, it was moved to the private Egyptian channel, Dream TV, due to censorship. It was extremely popular with audiences in both cases. Hamdy Quandil left the channel in 2004 for Dubai TV, an Emirati station, where his show was called “Qualam Rasas” (Pencil). He then worked for the independent Egyptian newspaper Al-Masry Al-Youm and later Al-Shoruk. Quandil provides the perfect example of what we shall discuss about the systemic nature of Arab media and “media confluence” (Guaaybess 2013).

Interview with Mohamed Dourrachad, Deputy Director, Abu Dhabi Television by TBS Journal, 2002.

The handling of the Arab demonstrations by the network was roundly criticised, particularly by specialists and the press (simply refer to almost any article discussing the channel after 2011). While its coverage of the Tahrir Square demonstrations on 25 January was applauded, its approach was questionable for Syria, Bahrain (for its silence with regard to this situation) and Libya. In terms of audience numbers, in 2013 the station boasted that it was the most watched of Arabic news channels, citing a survey by Ipsos and Sigma Conseil that the AFP later found to be fabricated. Online sites show a spectacular drop in its viewership, although the figures and sources given are too vague to be verified. See Azeddine Senegri, “AFP admits Al-Jazeera story mistake”, Asharq Al-Awsat, 3 June 2013, [online] URL: http://www.aawsat.net/2013/06/article55304220 [accessed on 9 February 2015].

BBG in the News, U.S. funded radio and television make significant gains in the Middle East despite anti-American sentiments, 29 April 2004, [online] URL: http://www.bbg.gov/press-release/u-s-funded-radio-and-television-make-significant-gains-in-middle-east-despite-anti-american-sentiments/ [accessed on 9 February 2015].

Among the top 40 most-visited websites in Egypt are the newspaper websites for Al-Masry Al-Youm, Al-Ahram, Al-Wafd and Al-Shorouk. See Dubai Press Club, Arab Media Outlook 2011–2015, Dubai, 2012.

Interview with Slimane Zeghidour, researcher and journalist (TV5Monde), September 2014.

The Egyptian press industry was dominated by the three daily newspapers Al-Ahram, Al-Akhbar and Al-Gomhouria.

Five years after the 25 January 2011 demonstration, Reporters Without Borders, among other NGOs, noted a “worrying” situation for journalists in Egypt. In addition to the censorship and repression that continue to weigh on the press, it should be noted that major reforms are being planned. Deliberations and debates on the legal status of the media and journalists have been under way since 2014 with a view to allowing the media greater independence with regard to the Egyptian government. Following the election of Abdel Fattah al-Sisi, the information minister post was eliminated. Additionally, the new constitution adopted by referendum in January 2014 sets out the creation of a supreme media council (Article 211), which would oversee a national press and media organisation (Article 212) and a national television, radio and digital media association (Article 213). Acts on television and radio media and the printed press, as well as how they are organised, then had to be revised to adapt them to the new constitution. The government wanted to draft legislation, thereby countering the country’s journalist syndicate, which felt it was the most legitimate body to draw up the text. In the end, the journalist syndicate formed a national ad hoc committee of 50 figures (12 from the press, 12 from television, radio and digital media, and 26 experts, lawyers, academics and media professionals) who drafted the bill. In January 2016, the Minister of Justice Ahmed al-Zend decided that the draft legislation was unconstitutional and reiterated the government’s desire to submit draft legislation written by the executive brand to parliament.

Generally speaking, the association’s missions are to defend the freedom of expression and rights of journalists; however, in practice, being a member facilitates access to certain sources and accreditations. It also allows members to draw a public pension and be eligible for a monthly stipend of around E£800 (€93) and E£570 (€66), respectively, as of 2013.

Interview with the author, January 2011.