• EGYPT
  • April 9, 2013
  • 3 minutes read

Study: 62% of Media Coverage of Egypt President Unprofessional

Study: 62% of Media Coverage of Egypt President Unprofessional

A media analysis, the largest of its kind, by the Egyptian Center for Media and Public Opinion Studies found that 62% of the volume of media coverage of the Egyptian President lacks essential professional standards and objectivity.

According to the study, Satellite TV channels ‘Al-Jazeera Live Egypt’ and ‘Nile News’ are the most professional in dealing with the institution of the presidency, while TV channels CBC, ON-TV and Dream 2 occupy the bottom of the professional index.

The study results showed that the most professional broadcasters in dealing with the presidential institution were: Doha Zuhairy, Amr Laithi, Sharif Amer, Hafez Al-Mirazi and Khalid Salah, while the least professional were: Lamees Al-Hadidi, Mahmoud Saad, Wael Ibrashi, and Magdy Al-Gallad.

The study further showed that newspapers at the top of the professional index are: Al-Ahram, Al-Akhbar, Akhbar Al-Yawm, and Al-Shorouk, while the least professional were: Al-Dostour, Al-Watan, Sawt Al-Umma, Al-Tahrir, and Vito.

The study covered the period from June 24, 2012 to March 24, 2013 by monitoring and analysis of all material on the institution of the presidency in TV channels, websites, newspapers, with the exclusion of all individuals who apologized, resigned, or were sacked during that period.

Furthermore, the study monitored and analyzed 176,000 press items and 2180 hours of television broadcast, by a group of researchers specializing in ‘media image’ research. The results were assessed and indices produced at the Image Research Unit of the Egyptian Center for Media and Public Opinion Studies with 95% reliability.

The study focused on one important criterion, namely: the power, popularity and impact of each media outlet.

In general, the study revealed, there is one approach adopted by privately-owned Egyptian media toward President Mohamed Morsi since his ascension to power, that is: a ‘predominantly negative policy’ to misrepresent the positions and actions of the President in the most viewed TV channels and websites and the most read newspapers, regardless of these positions or whether they are right or wrong.

In other words, according to the study, hostile media is waylaying the President – not all media sources though, only 62%.

In conclusion, the study showed that some 1316 hours of television broadcast and 124,000 newspaper articles dealt with the President, his decisions and activities as well as his personal life, of which about 1045 television broadcast hours and 84,000 press articles adopted a hostile, negative approach.