MENA House: The Media and "Solving Corruption" in Egypt

There has been a journalist's revolution in Egypt.The freedom to publish stories exposing event has occupied TV news channels all over the country and the Middle East.

Private television stations such as Al Hayat, Al Masreya, Mehwar, and Dream are the most watched by Egyptian viewers.  Every evening from 7 p.m., the "information" programmes begin. They can last anything from 30minutes to two hours. All contiain references to "events"; often the stories will consist of some element of corruption.

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On 16 June, on 90 Minutes on Mehwar,  Mo’tez el Demerdash asked, "Can the media solve corruption?"

To discuss that question, El Demerdash invited three editors-in-chief of leading newspapers in Egypt and the Middle East: Magdi Galad of Al Masry al Youm, Mohammed Salah of the London bureau of Al Hayat, and Momtaz Al 'Ot of Akhbad al Youm.

Initially, the topic was access to medical treatment in Egypt.  Whilst the Egyptian Government provides free treatment, sometimes a contact is needed to obtain medical care.  Mohammed Salah pointed out that, in provinces in Upper Egypt, an individual had to go to the Mayor of the Province and then the Mayor informed the local hospital that his visitor had to be admitted.

Magdi Galad countered that it is not your basic human right, if you are poor, just to get sick.  El Demerdash asked, "Do you mean that if you are below the poverty line your chances of gaining access to medication and medical treatment is slim?" All in the room nodded in agreement.

El Dermedash then asked, "Can we as journalists fight corruption?"

Mohammed Salah vehemently argued that, in recent years, corruption has become more prominent and no one is innocent of it. For example, if you are pulled over while driving, you can give a "small tip" and be on your way.  When going to an office to complete a transaction, in many places it is necessary to pay a small sum on the side to complete the work.

Magdi Galad appeared to agree with Salah, but Momtaz al ‘Ot disapproved of the other journalists and newspaper,s claiming that they were out to get the Government.  He asked, "Why do the newspapers and journals not cover the good news, for example when there’s a pay rise in some national companies and civil service jobs? A pay rise of 60EGP to 120EGP is a significant increase, thus it should be covered."  Mohammed Salah responded, "Whether the individual receives 60EGP OR 120EGP, both figures are below the poverty line.  So it’s neither news-worthy nor good news for that matter."

Al ‘Ot further attempted to prove his point by claiming that corruption is being fought, since key statesmen who have committed crimes are tried at the high court and do not escape the justice system. Both Salah and Galad responded that, while there are individuals being brought to court on corruption charges, "too many others" are escaping. So the media should attempt to provide a check and balance by investigating and clarifying events that might otherwise be brushed under the carpet.

When presenter El Demerdash asked, "Can corruption ever be fought in society?", Galad replied that the effort must come from the top, as this would have a ripple effect through the rest of the culture.  (This is a contrast to the view of Mohammed el Baradei, a likely candidate for President in the next election, who said that corruption must be fought from the bottom of society through to the top.)

Whilst the heated debate continued between the three editors and the presenter, the question remained: Just how effective is the impact of such media outbursts on eradicating corruption?

Comments

[Catherine]

And on the radio waves....

English-language radio Nile FM gaining popularity as shows deal with once-taboo issues
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/babylonbeyond/2010/07/egypt-english-language-radio-nile-fm-gaining-popularity-as-shows-deal-with-once-taboo-issues.html" rel="nofollow">http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/babylonbeyond/2...

[Catherine]

RE Galad replied that the effort [to fight corruption] must come from the top, as this would have a ripple effect through the rest of the culture. (Mohammed el Baradei said that corruption must be fought from the bottom of society through to the top.)

They're both right - and if these 2 trajectories happen simultaneously - even better! I'm encouraged to see that these topics are now being discussed more openly.