Political bias saturates Egypt’s media

The Egyptian media’s coverage of the past weeks’ confrontations between the country’s new military backed government and the Muslim Brotherhood has been “saturated with clear political bias and reflects the current political division,” says Michael Irving Jensen, head of IMS’ Middle East and North Africa department

The majority of Egypt’s mass media, including both state and private media, has embarked on a new discourse in which they portray the supporters of ousted President Mohamed Morsi as terrorists.

Also media outlets affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood display a clear lack of professional standards, and both sides of the media have been accused of provoking public violence.

“It is of paramount importance that Egypt’s media adhere to journalistic standards and provide their audiences with non-partisan, professional coverage, in order to avoid inflaming the situation further,” adds Michael Irving Jensen.

Polarised coverage

Since the crackdown on pro-Morsi protests began, state TV has provided little coverage of accusations raised against police officers from Western media and human rights groups.

State-run media and some private TV outlets are fiercely anti-Morsi, stressing that his supporters are armed and have caused casualties among the police.

TV stations affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood, on the other hand, reserve their anger for the army, emphasising deaths among the protesters and showing gruesome pictures of the dead and wounded.

According to the BBC, TV stations affiliated with the Muslim Brotherhood, Ahrar 25 and Al-Shar’iyah were broadcasting live from the Rabaa al-Adawiya camp, one of the principal areas of pro-Morsi demonstrations. The feeds showed intensely emotional and rousing speeches delivered by Islamists addressing the demonstrators. Video of protesters in the camp was broadcast alongside clips showing piles of dead bodies and several charred carcasses.

State TV stations Channel One and Nile News, as well as the private channels ON TV and CBC, were also broadcasting live footage of the clearance of pro-Morsi camps. Contrary to the broadcasts from pro-Morsi channels they were highly critical of the demonstrators, claiming that they were armed and have killed several members of the security forces. Broadcasts of the events from state TV show a banner in English in the upper left corner reading: “Egypt Fights Terrorism”.

Journalists under severe pressure

According to the Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters without Borders, three journalists have been confirmed killed since August 14.

The Egyptian human rights group Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression (AFTE) reported 32 separate violations against local journalists, including assaults, detentions or confiscation of press equipment. Reporters without Borders report at least 15 journalists, both Egyptian and foreign, have had their rights violated through attacks, seizure of equipment, or detention.

“The Egyptian authorities must send a clear signal that journalists cannot be harmed or harassed as they attempt to cover the unrest. If the authorities genuinely want to establish democracy, it is key that they tolerate all viewpoints”, says IMS’ Michael Irving Jensen.

With independent journalism under pressure, providing an alternative to the current discourse is a key challenge for Lina Attalah, editor-in-chief at the English-language Mada Masr website, she said to the online magazine Jadaliyya on Friday:

“How can one remain autonomous and sustainable, to survive, grow and show that there is an alternative possible journalism? This is what we are grappling with right now and I hope we will have some good answers.”