Official attempts to change the face of the state media fail to meet the demands of many staff members, reports Doaa El-Bey Since the 25 January Revolution there have been repeated demands that both the policies and senior management of the state-run media -- for so long a mouthpiece of the regime -- undergo a radical overhaul. In the last few days there has been a change at the Egyptian Television and Radio Union (ERTU) as well as in the official press, with senior staff replaced. Changes at the ERTU, however, failed to appease staff members. They called for support in demanding real change on what they dubbed "the day of anger", 6 April. "New faces, but same old policies. And some corrupt leaders are still in place," says television anchor Hala Fahmi. She confirmed that staff would continue to protest until there is a real change. Protesters say that despite a committee being set up, headed by the journalist and distinguished writer Sekina Fouad, delegated by the government to listen to their demands, Prime Minister Essam Sharaf has ignored their grievances. "A change in the ERTU can only be carried by media people. We are against any army interference in the union," says Fahmi. Sharaf has already replaced Nadia Halim by Nihal Kamal as head of the TV department, Abdel-Latif El-Manawi by Ibrahim Kamel El-Sayed as head of the news department and Entesar Shalabi by Ismail El-Sheshtawi as head of the radio department. But, complain staff, the sacked former heads were simply reshuffled into a consultancy role. And why, they ask, is someone like Sami El-Sherif, the head of the ERTU, still there. Sherif was one of the figures that had close relations with former NDP figures in ERTU. Reports that Samir Farag, currently governor of Luxor, may be appointed minister of information have upped tensions. There have been calls within the cabinet for the post of minister of information to be reinstated after the portfolio was closed following the revolution. Those in favour argue that a revamped ministry could be handed responsibility for restructuring the union and meeting the other demands of the staff. ERTU employees are calling for a minimum wage of LE2,000, a restructuring of contracts and conditions, the election of heads of department as well as a committee to represent them. Mahmoud Khalil, a professor of mass communication at Cairo University, argues that the return of the Ministry of Information would be a backward step, impeding attempts to transform the state media from a propaganda tool to a proper watchdog. Many staff members were disgruntled by the state media's coverage of the 18 days of protest that forced president Hosni Mubarak's resignation. Some, like Fahmi, took indefinite leave. Now they are demanding the removal of senior staff who took part in the coverage, including ERTU head El-Sherif. Changes at ERTU came a few days after a long anticipated shuffle at national newspapers. Labib El-Sebaai has replaced Abdel-Moneim Said, member of the former ruling Party's policies committee, as chairman of the board at Al-Ahram. Abdel-Azim Hamad was appointed as Al-Ahram's editor-in-chief, replacing the pro-Mubarak Osama Saraya, harshly criticised for his staunch support of the regime and the ruling party. Gamal Almadoul is now chairman of state-run daily Rose El-Youssef, replacing Karam Gabr, member of the ruling NDP. Ibrahim Khalil is editor-in-chief of the paper and Osama Salama editor-in-chief of Rose El-Youssef magazine, replacing Abdallah Kamal. Both Gabr and Kamal were staunch defenders of the pre-25 January status quo. Adel Abdel-Aziz is now chairman and editor-in-chief of the Middle East News Agency (MENA), replacing Abdallah Hassan. Change at the ERTU and the press is, argues Khalil, a positive first step towards purging the media of NDP appointees whose reporting of current events has sometimes smacked of support for a counter-revolution. But, he says, much more needs to be done, and the fact that a figure as senior as Sami El-Sherif remains in post could easily threaten the gains of the revolution. What is most needed, he says, is to usher in genuine change in the fields of work style, training and work tools. A real change in the latter involves giving a chance to those deprived of opportunities in the past. The media should also cast light on events in a balanced way that can help the reader or spectator develop an informed point of view. "I am concerned that workers brought up to appease the regime will fail to play the role of watchdog. They could easily end up playing the same old role but with the revolution this time," he warns.
