Egypt State Information Service

Egypt had known arts of communication and information since early times through simple and primitive means. Over time, those means had evolved until Egypt became the first country in its vicinity to know information in its modern forms and means.

Egypt was the first country to know the press then radio and television service. It was also the first country to establish an information organization in 1954 (Department of Information) and a national news agency (The Middle East News Agency) in 1956. With the outbreak of 23 July Revolution 1952, the importance and key role of media emerged.

The first ministry in charge of media affairs in Egypt's history was set up in November 1952. It was called the Ministry of National Guidance, later on its name changed to Ministry of Culture and National Guidance.. Once again, it regained its earlier name which so remained until 1970. With the several changes taking place in the following period, both the information and culture sectors were merged until a separate information state ministry was set up by virtue of The Republican Decree No. 43 of 1982.

Since early the 1980s, the Egyptian information entered into its gold age as the information march scored a lot of success on the technical and technological levels that led to a great information takeoff.

Egypt has possessed a strong media infrastructure, well qualified to address contemporary issues. In a democratic and free environment, it has communicated with and opened to the world.

Egypt was the first Arab country introducing press. The first official Egyptian Gazette “al- Waqa'e al-Misrya” was issued in 1828. Then, the first public newspaper (Wadi an-Neel) was issued in 1867. The first legislation for publications was issued in January 14,1799. In 1960 law No. 156 was issued pertaining to press establishments.

In 1980, law No. 148 of 1980 was issued stipulating that the Egyptian press is an independent authority that exercises its mission in full freedom in the service of the society. In 1996 law No. 96 of 1996 was issued to regulate the organizational system of the press.

Within a new framework of freedom and democracy in Egypt, the press undertakes its national mission expressing various opinions and trends, gradually, different newspapers emerged, reflecting the country's prevailing political, social, economic and cultural status through each period of the Egyptian history. Evolving from exclusively public ownership, there emerged new forms of press: partisan and independent.

On March 26,1998 the Journalist Code of Ethics was approved by the Supreme Council of Press. In 2006, some articles of the penalty law were amended to secure the freedom and independence of the press. Under this climate, the newspapers number increased and their specialists and trends varied. In 2006 the number of newspapers hits 532. As a result, the number of professional journalists enrolled by the Syndicate of Journalists has reached 4858, and unprofessional and 1233 trainees.

Since its official inauguration on May 31, 1934, the Egyptian broadcasting service has played a major role in education and raising public awareness and ensuring communication with the Arab nation.

The Egyptian broadcasting service has managed to document most events, thus providing historical records and a rare collection of documents that stands witness to this age.

The broadcasting sector comprises main networks. Total transmission hours of all broadcasting services in 2005/06 hits 189,669 hours with 527 hours/day. The number of Egyptian radio transmission stations has risen to 303 with a total capacity of 139,00 kilowatts.

Egyptian radio networks transmission is played to Europe, US and Asia through the “Nilesat” and “Eutelsat”. In addition to the overseas services addressed in 38 languages to all parts of the world. New overseas services in Chinese, Japanese, Spanish and Portuguese were initiated.

Eight new FM thematic radio channels are addressed to Cairo, Alexandria and Hurghada were established, in addition to a new FM services was introduced in Al-Arish to transmit the Hebrew program “Kal Kahir” which addresses the Israeli population to brief them on the Palestinian issue. Besides two commercial services jointly set up by the Radio & Television Union and C.N.E.

The Egyptian television occupies a distinguished position, which is capable of overcoming the challenges of globalization and open skies. It was launched on July 21, 1960, witnessed various successful events throughout its history. The Egyptian television becomes an essential pillar of the national information system, within the new environment of information and communication technology.

ESC I reflects' to the world Egypt's civilization and culture. Its coverage includes all Arab countries, most African countries, Europe, Asia and France. It operates 24 hours a day.

This channel's transmission has been working since January 2002. It broadcasts under the U.S Eastern time zone.

Is the first Egyptian international channel, transmitting programmes in English and French, and Hebrew was added in January 2002. It transmits 20 hours a day, for local and foreign viewers in Egypt. Its overseas transmission covers all Arab countries, Middle East, half of North Africa. USA and all European countries.

Total TV transmission hours of the central and regional channels hit 51495.16 hrs, and that of the satellite hit 24462 hrs and the thematic channels hit 47548,68 hrs. Total visual transmission stations rose to 294 station.

Both satellite (Nile sat 101 and Nile sat 102) are civilized and technological leap in the age of satellites. They are an outcome of long and sustainable efforts since late 1960s and early 1970s when Egypt advocated the idea of launching a satellite to provide direct radio and television transmission. Necessary phased, studies were made for the project until president Hosni Mubarak signed in May 1995 a document for manufacturing and launching Egypt's first satellite (Nilesat). The first satellite was launched in 1998 and the second one in 2000.

Both satellites (Nilesat 101 and Nilesat 102) offer valuable national services for Egypt, represented in the following:

- Providing information communication to all areas from North Sinai to Toshka, Awinat and Al Wadi Al Gadeed (The New Valley). They also serve as a back up media service to terrestrial networks.

- Supporting the state's comprehensive development plan through providing channels that transmit educational and cultural programmes.

- The Nile Sat is an efficient tool to face the flowing intellectual cultural and media product. It can play a good alternative role expressing the Egyptian society, presenting the Egyptian civilization image within observance of the country's identity and idiosyncrasy and interacting with other cultures.

Both satellites have on board 24 satellite channels transmitting 180 satellite T.V channels and 800 Egyptian, Arab and international broadcasting stations. More than 262 channels were leased including: view channels, three channels for real estate marketing, 14 song channels, as well as radio and internet channels used by millions of viewers.

In February 2002, the Nile Sat launched its interactive transmission service, together with the “home movie” or “TV in demand”, allowing direct viewer-satellite interaction. This service was offered for the first time in the Middle East. It is provided via the Nile Sat through 10 new satellite channels in conjunction with Showtime. The Nile Sat won the certificate of the best satellite channel on the regional level in 2004.

In the age of communications, information, satellites and open skies and due to the necessity of providing excellent media production facilities in terms of quantity and quality, the state has established the Media Production City (MPC).

In June 2002, President Mubarak declared the completion of the MPC and the inauguration of the Mubarak International Studios Complex. Thus, all media projects in the MPC were completed, providing a tangible leap for Egyptian media in particular, and for Arabs in general. This has facilitated the opportunity for the MPC to be named “the Hollywood of the Orient:' as well as being the biggest drama production facility in the Middle East.

The MPC covers an area of about 3 million m², that is comprised of 29 studio complexes (A,B,C), open-air shooting locations of all settings; pharaonic, rural, Islamic Bedouin, coastal and forest, as well as the Magic Land, the Garden City district, Al-Azbakia Park, the Media Free Zone and the regional offices of international satellite companies.

A decree was issued in 2000 to set up a free media zone for the art and media production activities. The zone is the biggest of its kind in the Middle East and is the main venue for international satellite companies. Egypt is considered an investment hub for media production and transmission.

In an age where value of information is maximized and within the world's current developments, SIS managed to fulfill its serious information mission, by working with all the prevalent issues; whether local, regional or international, using state-of-the-art technologies. Since its establishment 50 years ago, SIS has played several roles; most importantly it is considered as the state's public relations agency, political and media studies centre, data bank and major publishing cultural house that publishes about two million publications a year.

The launch of the SIS website in 1996 was indeed an unprecedented initiative that is considered a huge success. The distinguished site provides a comprehensive panorama of Egypt's history, civilization and culture, in addition to its latest achievements. In addition, the site presents comprehensive biographies of Egypt's top figures including politicians, intellectuals and scientists, all fully documented in facts and figures.

In 2000, this site was chosen by the UNESCO as one of the best cultural sites all over the world. As a proof of its credibility, USA, Germany and Japan demanded that many of its sites be linked directly to SIS website to benefit from its various information resources.

The SIS web site was launched on the Nile sat to fully benefit from its turbo speed internet service to enhance the efficiency of the services the website offers to the public.

- The site contains 98 sections, 120,000 pages, 70600 images, 1824 hours of audio tapes and 1890 hours of video tapes. The site receives about 10 to 12 million visitors per month.

The site relays transmission of the Public Programme Network and Songs Programme around the clock. It also relays transmission of Nile TV International and Nile News channel for 12 hours a day

Through this network, SIS has started connecting its local information centers and its overseas offices to its headquarters, through a secured network; thus facilitating an efficient flow of information. In addition, the video conference technology allows participation in symposia and seminars.

This technology is a modern tool that the local administration uses to deepen decentralization trends through transforming the information complexes into a rostrum for open dialogue.

This service was initiated in 28 local centers as well as four overseas offices in Washington, Paris, Berlin and London.

The main objective of these clubs is to help spread awareness about up-to-date information and communication technology among Egypt's youth by providing them with the essential skills of dealing with computers according to the needs of the labor market and keeping them up-to-date about future developments.

About 30 technology development clubs were established in the information complexes and centers nationwide. In 2005/06, those clubs held 860 training courses for 6525 trainees, most of which were young men and university graduates.

This sector serves as an information and research centre, a publishing house as well as a centre for political and strategic studies. The information sector plays a key role in providing a constant flow of information through modern tools.

This information is dispersed to the public in the form of programmes and a series of publications and research papers. The sector also issues the Egyptian media report; which was first launched in 2004. The report tackles Egypt's portrayed image around the world.

The Local Information Sector plays a vital role in dispersing development-related information to the public. It is the most effective tool that provides direct mass communication to all Egypt's governorates.

It operates through 65 local information complexes and centers; that are spread all over the country, including 27 modern complexes, 29 Nile information centers (Education and Communication Centers), 44 child, 50 listening and viewing clubs, 26 family planning centers, 65 public opinion units, 30 technology clubs, and 42 friends of the environment clubs.

The sector has achieved tangible progress throughout the year; this was particularly clear as the number of symposia, lectures, courses and seminars held in 2005/06 increased to total about 10380. Total number of beneficiaries amounted to 853192. The total number of public opinion reports drawn up by the information complexes and centers reached 9631.

The SIS Foreign Information Sector represents the foreign component of Egypt's media function. The sector supervises 32 overseas information offices that monitor media feedback broadcasted or published in significant domestic and foreign media stations and press. There are 9 offices in Europe, 4 in North America, 3 in Africa, 11 in the Arab world and one in Israel.

All the foreign press offices are linked to the internet. Offices in Washington, London and Paris have also been hooked to the SIS headquarters through a video conference network in 2004.

The press center for foreign correspondents and reporters offers several services to facilitate their jobs. Some permanent and temporary press centers are established during conferences and occasions inside or outside Egypt.

The press center played an effective role in the coverage of the Egyptian presidential elections that took place during September in 2005 through providing facilities and information to the correspondents and reporters whether they were residing or visiting journalists.

MENA, established in 1956, was the first regional news agency in the Middle East to cover this vital part of the world. It is now one of the most powerful news agencies. It is related as the 11^th among international news agencies according to the UNESCO's report.

Operating 24 hours a day, MENA transmits about 250,000 word/day to most parts of the world. Also, MENA has at present a wide network of correspondents around the world; totaling to about 40 offices and correspondents in the world's most prominent capitals. Besides, the Agency covers all of Egypt's governorates through a domestic network of offices and correspondents. MENA exchanges news and photographs with 25 Arab and foreign news agencies.

MENA issues several bulletins in English. The most popular bulletins are perhaps the daily Cairo Press Review (CPR), the biweekly Party Press Review (PPR) and weekly economic magazine M.E.N. To stay up-to-date with the new emerging trends in the field of mews reporting. MENA issues 10 specialized bulletins in Arabic.

In 1996, it started transmitting its news services via 3 satellites namely, the Asian Intelsat, covering Asia and Africa, the Atlantic Intelsat, covering Europe, Mediterranean countries and North Africa and Europe; as well as transmitting through Eutelsat, which transmits all over the world. In June 1997, the Agency accessed the Internet and launched its website in Arabic, English and French.