Middle East & North Africa

Egypt

{This graph represents scores that have been modified by CIMA so that higher scores indicate a better media situation. It is intended to show trends over time; each index measures significantly different factors of press freedom. To see an explanation for how this graph was created, click here.}
 

IREX Description:

Egypt experienced many events in 2009 that affected the freedom of expression and freedom of the media. The political situation in Egypt, along with the Israeli military action in Gaza, heavily shaped the experience of journalists, bloggers, and media specialists.

Although serious attacks on journalists were rare, court cases against journalists and cases related to violations of publishing bans drew concern from the media and the public. In other respects, the press enjoys unprecedented freedom. MSI panelist Fatmah Samir Rizk, an Egyptian Television News reporter, said that there has been a major shift in the media field in the past 10 years, with the emerging satellite networks, independent newspapers, and news websites compromising the regime's control over the media and causing the state-owned media to retreat.

Egypt's overall score suffered a setback of three-tenths of a point, compared with 2008.

While Objectives 1 (freedom of speech) and 2 (professional journalism) remained roughly unchanged, Objectives 3 (plurality of news), 4 (business management), and 5 (supporting institutions) all lost significant ground. On balance, the Egyptian media sector is one of the most pluralistic and sophisticated in the Middle East; at the same time it is often subjected to the side effects of—or actively participates in—partisan bickering. Media that are willing to push the envelope of objective or critical coverage walk a fine line.

Read more on IREX’s site…

On January 25, Egyptians took to the streets as part of widespread protests against President Hosni Mubarak, demanding that he step down.

Social media tools such as Facebook and Twitter played a strategic role in mobilizing citizens and disseminating news. The authorities soon responded with intermittent blocks on access to such tools and to the websites of prominent independent newspapers. Then, in an extreme measure, from January 27 to February 2, the government, cut off all internet access and mobile-phone services in the country. A large number of bloggers and online activists were also detained during the protests, including Google executive Wael Ghonim, who disappeared on January 28, and was released from government detention on February 7.

On February 11, Mubarak stepped down, and the government ceded power to the Egyptian Army, while all detained journalists were freed. However, tensions between citizens and the army have since surfaced. On March 28, military police arrested blogger Maikel Nabil Sanad for criticizing the lack of transparency in the armed forces. On April 11, he was sentenced to three years in prison.

Read more on Freedom House's site...
 

Reporters Without Borders Description:

Since taking power in 1981, Hosni Mubarak has gone all out to curb not just press freedom but also citizens’ rights to freedom of information. The authorities have for several years been tightening control over the Internet, but without excessive use of filtering. Cairo is also, along with Riyadh, the driving force behind the creation of an Office for Arab Satellite Television, riding a current wave of a return to moral order.

Read more on RSF’s site…

Authorities followed familiar tactics to control news media, pursuing politicized court cases, imposing fines, using regulatory tools, and harassing journalists. With Egypt seeing a burgeoning community of journalistic bloggers, authorities moved aggressively to monitor and control online activity. At least three online journalists were jailed when CPJ conducted its annual census of imprisoned journalists on December 1.

Read more on CPJ’s site...

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