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Al-Ahram Weekly 11 - 17 November 1999 Issue No. 455 
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Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Al-Ahram Weekly 11 - 17 November 1999 Issue No. 455
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| Published in Cairo by AL-AHRAM established in 1875 |
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Egypt Region International Economy Opinion Culture Features Profile Travel Books Sports People Time Out Chronicles Cartoons Letters A new dawn at Maspero?
By Nadia Abou Al-MagdInformation Minister Safwat El-Sherif started his new term in office by introducing some long anticipated, though nonetheless sweeping changes to Egyptian Television, criticised, among many other things, for being unable to compete with Arab and international satellite channels.
Channels One and Three, and Nile TV, each got new presidents, and almost half of current television schedules are slated to be replaced. In an opening move senior presenters of Good Morning, Egypt, the six-year old morning show that often lasts for up to three hours, and which is one of the pivots of Channel One and the Egyptian Satellite Channel's schedules, were replaced by younger faces. The new announcers are expected to focus greater attention on youth issues.
Meanwhile, Egyptian TV this week hosted a reception for more than 60 celebrities from various walks of life. The theme of the reception at the Conrad Hotel was: What issues are ignored by the Egyptian media and how should they be addressed. The brainchild of Zeinab Soweidan, the new chairperson of Channel One, the reception marked "the first time in the history of Egyptian TV that the cream [of intellectuals] gathered to contribute to a discussion of the vital issues of society," according to Mohamed El-Shabba, in charge of organising the event.
Osama El-Ghazali Harb, editor-in-chief of the quarterly journal Al-Siyassa Al-Dawliya (International Politics), Ali El-Samman, head of the International Committee for Dialogue between Religions, and Ayman Noor, the Wafd party's representative at the People's Assembly, were among the guests. The televised reception will be aired on Sunday, marking the beginning of a series of talk shows called Maspero.
Soweidan told reporters upon assuming her post that El-Sherif intended that the content of the programmes be improved and greater attention be paid to social issues, particularly those that concern young people. He also said that the content of some advertisements should be reconsidered in order not to violate the morals and traditions of society. Mohamed El-Rifa'ai, of the weekly Sabah Al-Kheir, had earlier branded an ad promoting Youssef Chahine's latest movie, The Other, as "the scandal of TV".
The possible banning of "indecent" commercials, especially those promoting soaps and deodorants as well as some stage plays, has been welcomed by Mohamed Abdel-Moneim, editor-in-chief of the weekly Rose Al-Youssef.
"It is impossible that all our comedies are cheap, depending on lewd movements ... Are all our women cheap and brutish?" he asked recently in the magazine.
"I haven't noticed a real change of mentality or policy, only of personalities, which is not enough," Salama Ahmed Salama, a prominent columnist for Al-Ahram told the Weekly.
Salama has severely criticised television coverage of the EgyptAir plane crash of 31 October and of the cloud of smog that enveloped Cairo for two weeks.
"Egyptian TV began its coverage of the plane crash three or four hours late and then resumed its ordinary programmes. The crash is a national disaster that should have been covered more deeply and comprehensively," Salama said, adding that TV should have a "task force" for covering disasters and emergencies.
"Since they are monopolising TV, they should rise to this monopoly and meet peoples' different demands and expectations, which they are not doing," Salama argued.
Salama is not the only one dissatisfied with the quality of programming. Ahmed Hashem El-Sherif recently wrote in Sabah Al-Kheir magazine: "TV needs a new Qassim Amin to liberate it.... The absence of intellect in our society is a phenomenon that deserves a study... Some of us, like the TV, live with their bodies in the present while their minds dwell on the past."
Madiha of Rose Al-Youssef addressed Zeinab Soweidan directly: "May God help you modify the appearance and quality of your announcers. Then please reconsider children's programmes in order not to create a mentally retarded generation," while on Monday Farouk Goweida made a comparison between Egyptian TV and the controversial Al-Jezzira Qatari Channel. "Some criticise Al-Jezzira channel, while I see that its pros are more than its cons. We have to admit that it stirred a lot of stagnant water even if it angered some," he wrote in Al-Ahram.
Goweida argued that one of the things TV should be encouraging is dialogue. This should be done, he wrote, by providing space to other views, even if they are different from those of the government and the state.
In a recent interview with October weekly, minister El-Sherif seemed to concur with the writer. An "Enlightenment Channel", he said, would be inaugurated soon, presenting "enlightened thought in religion, drama, culture etc... it will also broadcast all People's Assembly debates even if they last for more than seven hours, reflecting the views of all parties: government and opposition."
