(AFP Photo)
The Association for Freedom of Thought and Expression (AFTE) criticised the “incomplete independence and defective professionalism” of the Egyptian media, in a report published Tuesday.
Since the toppling of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi in July 2013, media coverage has changed, showing “loyalty to the regime” and divulging “propaganda” rather than abiding by the field’s standards of professionalism, according to the report.
The rights group also offered recommendations to contribute to a process of “democratic transformation”. Among the recommendations provided in the report is that media institutions should provide training for all media workers based on media standards that do not involve racism or words that incite hatred.
The government should back off the “media honour code” and leave the task of reporting to professionals in the field.
Not everyone agrees, however. Hanan El-Genned, Professor of Mass Communication at Cairo University, said “there is nothing wrong with the media supporting the government” and that “the media should all have the same message, so as not to confuse the people”.
