This blog is dedicated to exploring mass communication practices abroad, especially compared to United States practices. In my last post, I explained Nike's advertisement formula used across international borders. Today, I will discuss the different news practices used internationally, specifically in Egypt.
Bassem Youssef is an Egyptian satirist who hosts a talk show comparable to the U.S.'s Daily Show with Jon Stewart. As you can imagine, this job, in Egypt, is no piece of cake. Recently, private news channel CBC canceled his show claiming he had not followed their editing requirements. Shortly after, Bassem was arrested under charges brought on by leaders of the Egyptian Lawyer's Union.
Studying mass media effects in this case concerns agenda setting both with regards to how and why Bassem was arrested, and with regards to the news coverage of that arrest. I will be analyzing the latter of these two areas.
- Agenda-Setting is the theory that suspects media do not reflect reality, rather, they filter and shape it.
Maxwell E. McCombs and Donald L. Shaw conducted a study titled "The Agenda-Setting Function of Mass Media" on voters in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. From their results, they concluded: “the evidence is in line with the conditions that must exist if agenda-setting by the mass media does occur.” This study proved that media distort reality, and, in this case, reflect the views and opinions of whoever is in charge; we can call these regulators.
Egypt News Daily's post about Bassem report the opinion of the State Commission, which, to the news outlet, is a worthy source. It says, "The report [the State Commission's] meanwhile warned that freedom of expression should respect wider societal values and morals in Egypt, not attack or waste efforts by the state." Egypt News Daily is providing for its readers support for the notion that the state should supersede civil rights such as freedom of speech.
We know that, behind the scenes, Egypt News Daily is either required to report what the government dictates to them, or it is, itself, government owned. Regulation is a key factor here. Regulation in America takes place in the form of the FCC, a government agency, but in countries like Egypt, regulators reign.
- Regulation is, in this case, censorship dictated by an authoritarian government.
Other than giving Bassem a voice, American news has provided commentary on what his arrest means for the situation in Egypt. Washington Post's article on Bassem is titled "Wow. Nearly half of Egyptian support suspending TV satirist Bassem Youssef." This title, alone, expresses the unbelieving disapproval of Americans' towards any country that may limit freedom of speech. The "Wow" seems to scoff at citizens who would support regulators to control the flow of news.
Sources:
Egyptian satirist Bassem Youssef
"The Agenda-Setting Function of Mass Media"
Egypt News Daily's post about Bassem
FCC
CNN's video on Bassem
Washington Post's article on Bassem
I think you proved that agenda-setting and regulation are unfairly occurring in Egypt. I'm not surprised that our news sources are shocked at this breach of freedom of speech, something that American citizens (and especially American news outlets) value so much. However you also note that regulation occurs in the United States (through the FCC) and it is no secret that our news media agenda-set for us as well. When making judgements about other cultures, I think it is important to remember that we are also regulated and affected by media. Overall, I think this arrest serves as a strong reminder of the uniqueness of our freedoms here in the United States and emphasizes the stark contrast between our country and others.
ReplyDeleteThis is an interesting article, because following the ousting of former President, Mohamed Morsi, there was a belief in Egypt that freedom of speech would be expanded. However, there is still a strong distrust among the citizens in the country's news organizations. There is still the common belief that although many of the news outlets are no longer state run, they are still led by members of the Morsi regime. This post certainly perpetuates that philosophy, in that there is a strong underlying pressure from news organizations to censor or suppress certain speech. Clearly the media organizations have a strict agenda that they are unwilling to stray from.
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