TV for the people

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Rola Kharsa is best known for Egyptian television programmes that focus on social problems. The first of these -- the weekly " Akhbar Al-Nas " (People's News) -- was first aired on Channel 1 after Kharsa joined the institution in 1999. Today she presents the semi- documentary TV programme " Fil Omq " (In-Depth). A graduate of the French literature department at Cairo University, Kharsa first worked for the European Service of Egyptian Radio before moving to London, where she was both presenter and producer at the BBC Arabic Service as well as correspondent for Egyptian television. She is also the advisory board member representing Egypt for the British Council's Media and Social Issues Programme.

"I lived in London and worked for the BBC for seven years and during this time I realised that news bulletins always included something social; a crime, a movie, whatever. And I thought to myself, 'we never do that in the Arab world.'

"On my return to Egypt I found that most people still focussed on political reporting, but in time I was able to influence them regarding the importance of social coverage.

"I did not really choose my direction -- it was as if a path had been chosen for me and eventually I was able to launch my first social programme.

"The main challenge [in managing a social issues programme] is getting the information. How to get the contact information for people whose stories we want to cover.

"In conceptualising the programme, we are led by the press. Today, we also get many letters from people who want to make us aware of their problems. People come up to me on the street and start telling me things. I feel they realise I'm interested.

"Obviously one must pick and choose from a great wealth of information. In a country of 78 million I am interested in issues that will concern the many rather than the few. Some of the story ideas we receive are too local -- more local stations fare.

"I hope these programmes will raise people's awareness. I also want to present a model; I am a working woman struggling for a cause. I do not agree with those who say that media people should not stand for anything. We must have a point of view. And our audiences realise the difference immediately when we do have one.

"To make Egyptian television more credible, we need to do two things: first we must acknowledge that people do not have much trust in the government and that they associate us with the government. We must demonstrate that we are who we are, not the government. The public must believe in us as an entity, as individuals. They must believe that when I say something it is because I mean it and not because I was told to say it.

"Secondly, we must fill the gap separating what people need from what we have to offer them. Sometimes we are criticised for being too sophisticated and not offering programmes that people can relate to. We need to understand what it is that people want and not make light of their intellect."

Interview by Fatemah Farag