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Al-Ahram Weekly 29 July - 4 August 1999 Issue No. 440 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 29 July - 4 August 1999 Issue No. 440
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Profile Travel Living Sports Time Out Chronicles People Cartoons Letters Images of sorrow
By Salama Ahmed Salama
It was with great interest that I followed the funeral of the late King Hassan II of Morocco, transmitted by almost all television networks in the world. Global interest in the event is justified: the late king played a significant role in the political life of Morocco, but also in that of the Arab region, and in relations with Europe, the US and the rest of the international community. The fact that the ceremony was attended by 60 kings and heads of state attests to the significance of the event.
While all the networks provided their viewers with live coverage of the solemn procession, Egyptian coverage was vastly different from that of the French channel TV5, the BBC or the Italian networks. Egyptian Television simply turned its receivers in the direction of Morocco, thus ensuring viewers in Egypt an exact rendering of the event taking place in Rabat. For three long hours, the Moroccan media offered an undiluted dose of popular sorrow: mourning and lamentation, weeping and wailing interspersed with the religious exhortations common on such occasions. As the announcer described the great loss King Hassan's death represented, to the Moroccan people and to the Arab and Islamic world, he broke down sobbing himself.
Given the political and media situation in Morocco, this coverage of the death of a king who ruled for nearly four decades was to be expected. But what is a little more surprising is the monotonous and tedious coverage provided by Egyptian Television as compared with networks in other countries.
While none of the foreign channels showed any less sympathy for the loss suffered by the Moroccan people, they showed considerably more respect for the intelligence of their viewers, and fulfilled their role as modern channels of communication. They supplied accurate information, valid analyses, and comments on the repercussions of the death of such an important ruler. They also attempted to address many questions related to the possible impact of the king's death on Morocco and the region.
I switched back and forth between TV5 and the BBC; both focused on the world dignitaries who attended the funeral, and the procession winding its way through the streets of Rabat. Teams of experts on Moroccan affairs were lined up to comment and answer questions; reporters and anchors were well informed on the event and its repercussions. Live interactive exchanges took place covering a wide range of topics: the history of Morocco; the royal family; the struggle for independence; the role King Mohamed IV, and later King Hassan II, played in establishing an independent state; their efforts at modernisation and development; the difficulties encountered...
Images of the funeral, the mosque in which the king was to be buried, President Clinton carrying a bottle of water to quench his thirst under the scorching sun punctuated the coverage. Experts discussed regional relations, the Sahara problem, the king's role in the peace process, his chairmanship of the Jerusalem Committee, US-French rivalry for stronger relations with Morocco and its significance as a gateway to Africa.
For an Egyptian viewer, the foreign networks' three-hour coverage made for very instructive and interesting viewing. The commentary rendered the event meaningful, narrowed the gap between Mashriq and Maghreb, and brought into focus the challenges and problems facing a country with which we have had, and will continue to have, the closest of ties.
It is evident, however, that the Egyptian media perceives its mandate only as the authority to fill viewing time indiscriminately with any kind of programme. Perhaps national television's failure to televise the African football championships has rendered media officials oblivious to even the most basic fundamentals of what constitutes a successful media performance.
