The Egyptian information sector has witnessed a major leap and braced itself to keep pace with the new media era with its different variables politically, socially and economically.

 

With its robust media infrastructure, Egypt is now well qualified and well equipped to address contemporary issues in a free and democratic environment. At present, Egypt's Nilesats I, II rotate in the space and have on board more than 180 channels. In the age of technology and open skies, Egypt is now the number 60 member of the international space club; the first African country to launch two media and information satellites.

 

The Media Production City (MPC), better known as “Hollywood of the East” is now complete. As the largest media production centre in the area, it helps maintain Egypt's cultural identity and pioneering role. In addition, MPC houses the International Academy for Media Sciences. In the same vein, the State Information Service (SIS) has turned into the nation's memory; retaining and documenting its history. SIS also maintains an outstanding website with a record of about 259 million visitors. Besides, Cairo now ranks fourth worldwide in terms of the number of resident correspondents; i.e. 800 journalists and correspondents. Today, Radio and Television Union (ERTU) stands out as the most remarkable media edifice in the Middle East, notable for outstanding engineering capacity that is compatible with the digital era.

 

Thus, the Egyptian media has integrated with a free press that echoes the pulse of the nation.

 

 

Both satellites (Nilesat 101 and Nilesat 102) represent the first generation of Egyptian satellites up to 2017. They offer valuable national services for Egypt; transmitting audio-visual services to all areas.

 

On the international level, both satellites opened doors wide for interaction with other cultures while maintaining the Egyptian identity intact.

 

Both satellites have on board 24 satellite channels transmitting 180 satellite TV channels and 800 Egyptian, Arab and international broad-casting stations.

 

In February 2002, the Nilesat launched its interactive transmission service, together with the “home movie” or “TV on demand”, allow-ing direct viewer-satellite interaction. This service, offered for the first time in the Middle East, is provided via the Nilesat through 10 new satellite channels in conjunction with Showtime. This service gives a chance for choosing films and programs and watching them any time over 24 hours.

 

 

All MPC projects have been completed, thus opening the road for MPC to become actually “the Hollywood of the Orient”.

 

The MPC covers an area of about 3 million m2, comprising studios complexes (A.B.C), open-air shooting locations of all settings: pharaonic, Islamic, rural or Bedouin, coastal and forest. It also contains the Magic Land, the Media Free Zone and regional offices of international satellite companies.

 

The International Mubarak Studios Complex, started in 1998, is the heart of the MPC.

 

 

In June 2002, President Mubarak inaugurated the IAMS. It aims at graduating generations of high-caliber mediamen, well-trained both theoretically and practically to absorb the state-of-the-art technology. During years of study, students are allowed to make use of all facili-ties in the MPC.

 

The Academy consists of four departments:

 

1-     TV and Broadcasting Production.

2-     Cinema Production.

3-     Media Production.

4-     Multimedia and Internet Production.

 

Students are granted BA in one of the four above-mentioned specialties. In addition, the Academy grants professional specialized diplomas in one branch of media; news.

 

 

In June, 2003, marking the 20th celebration of Mediamen Day, President Mubarak inaugurated the new extension to the ERTU build-ing of which part I was inaugurated three years ago and built along the state-of-the-art technologies.

 

The new extension adds more charm to the prestigious ERTU building and stands loftily on Cairo's Nile water front.

 

On the other hand, the building comprises representative offices of the State Information Service, MPC, Voice of Cairo Company and the Egyptian Company for Satellites.

 

 

 

·        Over the period 2002/03, transmission hours for all radio net-works totaled 189959 with a daily average of 520 hours.

·        UHF radio transmission stations rose to 265 with a total capacity of 13782 kw. * The Egyptian broadcasting service continued to grow and cover Europe, America and Asia through the radio satellite “Nilesat” and “Eutelsat”, in addition to broadcasting services addressed to all parts of the world.

·        A new FM service was introduced in al-Arish to transmit the He-brew program “Kol Kahir” addressed to the Israeli people.

·        The experimental transmission of the overseas program ser-vices project in Chinese, Japanese, Spanish and Portugese began.

·        8 specialized broadcasting services were initiated and transmitted through the FM in Cairo, Alexandria and Hurghada, in addition to two commercial broadcasting services as a joint project between the Radio and TV Union and C.N.E.

 

 

Television figures high among media. It is a showcase for Egyptian and Arab art and civilization. Using the latest in information and communication technology, Egyptian TV is now ready to face the challenges of globalization and open skies. At present, the Egyptian TV has the following channels:

 

 

·        Channel 1.

·        Channel 2.

 

 

Six regional channels provide specialized media services in the areas of development and local environment.

 

 

They include three major channels:

 

1-     The Egyptian Satellite Channel (1) [ESCI]

2-     ESC II

3-     Nile TV International.

4-     Thematic Channels

 

 

·        Total TV transmission hours of central and regional channels hit 53449 hrs, with a daily average of 146.6 hrs.

·        Total TV transmission hours of satellite channels rose to 24489 hrs, with a daily average of 67.1 hrs.

·        Total TV transmission hours of thematic channels rose to 57418 hrs.

·        Total transmission hours of local, satellite and thematic channels rose to 135356 hrs, with a daily average of 386 hrs.

·        Total visual transmission stations rose to 255 with a total capacity of 655 kw.

·        The first Egyptian company specialized in presenting digital media services and TV production via the Internet was established in co-operation between the MPC and two internet and communications providers, each with an estimated capital of LE 100 million.

 

 

In an age where information, as an industry, production and consumption, is gaining increasing importance, SIS pursues its efforts to address and respond to main issues and developments both on the domestic and global arenas. As an active player on the vibrant media system in Egypt, SIS has armed itself with the necessary tools to keep pace with the latest developments, including serious pursuit of knowledge and hard-core facts and unlimited access to information and communication technology.

 

 

The launching of SIS website in 1996 was indeed a huge leap in kind. This site is now the forefront showcase of Egyptian media all over the world.

 

The distinguished site provides a comprehensive panorama of Egypt's history, civilization and culture in addition to its latest achievements. In addition, the present comprehensive biographies of Egypt's top figures including politicians, intellectuals and scientists, are all fully documented in facts and figures.

 

In October 2000, this site was chosen by the UNESCO as one of the best cultural sites all over the world. The site has so far a record of 259 million visitors. As a proof of its credibility, USA, Germany and Japan demanded that many of its sites be linked to SIS website to benefit from its various information resources. As another proof of its out-standing success, President Mubarak gave a go-ahead sign to launch SIS website via the Nilesat to present its super-speed Internet services.

 

The site comprises 43 pages, 43 million bits and 55,500 images and animated images. On its website, SIS employs the latest technologies in the world, including multimedia, to publish texts in both Arabic and English.

 

In order for SIS to optimally utilize all available technological capabilities, it has recently introduced a number of pictorial items produced by virtual reality (VR) imaging technology. These three-dimensioned audio-visual presentations feature landmarks of ancient Egyptian civilization.

 

1-     Number of visitors: 259,452,141

2-     Number of bits: 43 million

3-     Number of images: 53,000

4-     Number of animated images: 2500

5-     Number of audio hours: 1400

6-     Number of video hours: 1450

7-     Number of TV transmission hours: 12 hours, including 6 of Nile News and 6 of Nile TV International.

8-     Radio transmission hours: 24 hours (Main Networks).

The Intra/Extra net is undoubtedly a remarkable recent achievement by the SIS. On December 30, 1999, SIS launched the Intranet service to provide information and data to different SIS sectors. In June 2000, the SIS net was hooked up to that of the Central Agency for Public Mobilization and Statistics (CAPMAS) with its 42 data bases potentially making up a nucleus for an Egyptian Intra/Extra net. This net provides documented and validated information and data by two official sources of information. It can be extended on stage to cover more authorities and possibly to Arab countries.

 

Since its inception, the site comprises 200,000 pages in 22 files, di-vided into two major parts. The first includes Egyptian documents while the second includes regional and international issues.

 

 

Through this network, SIS has started hooking its local centers and its overseas offices to its headquarters in Nasr City, Cairo, thus allowing speedy flow of information. In addition, the video conference allows participation in symposia and workshops without having to physically move to the headquarters.

 

In the same way, distance training programs can be carried out in all sites at the same time, thus reducing expenses. Moreover, the video conference service makes it possible to follow up major events immediately on the spot.

 

 

This promising project is considered one of the mainstays of enhancing activities in local information centers and complexes. 30 clubs were established in governorates with the aim of helping to acquire more skills and compete in labor markets.

 

 

This sector performs an important role as a centre for information, research, publication and political and strategic studies.

 

 

SIS Foreign Information Sector represents the foreign component of Egypt's media function. The sector supervises 31 overseas information offices that monitor media feedback on significant domestic and foreign issues. They also follow the image of Egypt as reflected in foreign media.

 

 

Worldwide, Egypt ranks fourth in terms of number of journalists and correspondents that reached 800 up to August 1, 2003.

 

 

The Local Information Sector plays a vital role in development-related information. It provides the most important means of direct mass communication all over Egypt's governorates. It plays a significant role with public media in local TV and radio channels. It operates through 64 local information complexes spreading in all governorates, including 27 advanced Nile Information, Education and Training Centers (NIETC), 49 TV viewing clubs, 44 child clubs, 36 literacy and adult education classrooms, 60 family planning centers, 38 public libraries, 63 public opinion units, 30 technology clubs, 36 friends of the environment clubs and 40 media friends clubs.

 

 

Egypt is the first Arab country to witness press, with the issuance in 1828 of the first official gazette “al-Waqa'e al-Misrya”. Then, the first popular newspaper (Wadi an-Neel) was issued in 1867, followed by a number of newspapers that reflected political, economic, social and cultural conditions. Press now expresses opinions and opposite opinions and exercises its national mission within the framework of democracy and freedom.

 

-         The first legislation for publications was issued on January 14, 1799.

-         On November 26, 1881, the first law on publications was issued, as the first press legislation in Egypt.

-         On February 27, 1936, Decretal Law No. 20 of 1936 on publications and printing houses in Egypt was issued.

-         In 1941, the Syndicate of Journalists was established.

-         On May 24, 1960, Law No. 156 of 1960 organizing the press was issued.

-         On March 24, 1964, Law No. 151 was issued pertaining to press establishments.

-         In 1975, a decree was issued by the Socialist Union establishing a higher council for the press as an independent authority to oversee the press affairs so as to ensure its freedom and independence under the law.

-         In 1980, Law No. 148 of 1980 was issued stipulating that the Egyptian press is an independent popular authority that exercises its mission in full freedom in the service of the society. It shall express different trends of the public opinion and contribute to building up public opinion through various forms of expression in the framework of the basic constituents of society. The press shall also maintain public freedom rights and duties and respect the privacy of citizens. Evolving from exclusively public ownership, there emerged new forms of the press: i.e partisan and independent press. The constitution has given high prominence to the press within an environment of democracy, pluralism and freedom of opinion and expression.

-         On March 23, 1983, the Supreme Council of Press approved the journalists Code of Ethics.

-         In 1996, Law No. 96 of 1996 was issued on the organization of the press.

-         On March 26, 1998, the Journalists Code of Ethics was approved by the Supreme Council of Press. Thus, there was a wide variety of newspapers of different specializations and trends totaling 492 publications .

 

 

MENA, established in 1956, was the first regional news agency in the Middle East. It is now one of the most powerful news agencies. It is rated 11th among international news agencies according to the UNESCO's report.

 

Operating 24 hours a day, MENA transmits some 250,000 words/day in Arabic, English and French. Its new services cover most parts of the world.