Years ago, a book with the title “How the News Makes Us Dumb: The Death of Wisdom in an Information Society” was published. Much media provides entertainment. They look at making profits and reaching the highest website hits. This attitude is not entirely surprising in a highly competitive world for survival. But this often goes on the expense of fact-finding, and efforts to truly understand the mechanisms that have resulted in the events we see unfolding.

In a world where good media reporting is mixed with poor media reporting, one should not automatically presume that big names such as the New York Times, immediately produce the highest quality of work in all areas.

Reporting is often particularly poor where it comes to countries and cultures that are different from the audience that is receiving the information. There is growing evidence that much reporting about Egypt is deeply biased (of course, the quality of Egypt’s own media reporting also can and should be criticized).

It is, therefore, not surprising that there is much frustration in Egypt about foreign media reporting with factual errors, reflecting ideological biases and that is not believed to be representative of Egypt. It is also not surprising that Egypt’s State Information Service joined hands with the U.S.-based organization, iMediaEthics in setting up FactCheckEgypt (FCE).

iMediaEthics has uncovered major errors in media reporting about Egypt, but is also accused of being too closely linked to the Government of Egypt. iMediaEthics founder and director Rhonda R. Shearer does not deny government relations but stresses iMediaEthics is fully independent. She is of the opinion that only the quality of work should count.

In a report, initiated by Egyptian journalism intern Lobna Zaki of the Center for Arab-West Understanding, one finds examples of critique on Western media reporting about Egypt as well as Shearer’s response to the critique she has received. Please click here to read this report.

Days ago an article in Qantara.de made sweeping statements about Egyptian government media practices and claims about iMediaEthics that cannot be backed up. See for our brief comment here.

We are well aware that many media platforms receive our reports and would welcome facts about experiences with FactCheckEgypt and iMediaEthics. Please let us also know how you think media should operate to improve reporting about Egypt in today’s circumstances.

Cornelis Hulsman,

Editor-in-chief Arab-West Report

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The Arab West Report is a weekly digest of Egyptian newspaper translations and analysis, focusing primarily on Arab-West and inter-communal relations in the Middle East.

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