Egyptian media still “corrupt” after revolution

Leading media figure Osama Kamal criticised the deterioration of Egyptian media, since the revolution and despite his efforts to improve the image of TV programming. He resigned from his flagship programme Nady El Asama (Capital Club) after the show was stopped and restarted several times over the last year. Kamal denied he had been 'acting' before viewers when he decided to go ahead with a show, which was cancelled after interference from the Minister of Information. Despite the credibility of his show, viewers have lost confidence in programming after the revolution, he added. He said he faced “the same problems during the former regime,” and criticised both regimes for focusing on their positions rather than their being professionals. He cited an interview he organised with Sheikh Muhammad Hassan in April, as the first example of interference. The episode was cancelled a few minutes before going on air. Kamal believed the Sheikh would declare his presidential candidacy in the exclusive interview. He said he decided to resign because he felt nothing had changed after the revolution. “At that time, I was strongly affected by the words of Sheikh Muhammad’s brother. He told me we are corrupt, and the media will remain corrupt,” he added. Kamal returned to work six months later, when Mrs. Nehal Kamal from the Egyptian television apologized and explained that she was under a lot of pressure. He agreed to resume the program after promises were made not to cancel the program again. But on the night it was due to air, an episode featuring an exclusive interview with Kairat El Shater was cancelled, because Egyptian television wanted to run a Costa Rican match. Kamal said the Minister of Information told him the focus had been changed to the presidential election candidates who had been excluded, rather than the candidates running. Kamal said he was annoyed again when his interview with Sheikh Hazem Abu Ismail was cancelled, two days before the air date. Nonetheless Kamal went ahead with the show because he wanted the viewers to make their own judgement over the matter. In spite of his attempts to improve the image of Egyptian television to convey what is actually happening, he admitted there was a state of deterioration and loss of confidence between the viewers and the Egyptian state television due to the accumulation of several events and attitudes over the years.