In fall 2024, at the BRICS Media Summit in Moscow, a memorandum of understanding was signed between the Russian Ministry of Digital Development and the Egyptian Supreme Council for Media Regulation. This provides for objective coverage of world events for audiences in both countries. The cooperation is developing at a time when the Egyptian media system is undergoing a profound transformation caused by digitalization, political changes, and economic challenges.
The history of printed publications here began with the newspaper “Le Courrier de l’Egypte”, which published news for French soldiers during Napoleon's Egyptian expedition. After Muhammad Ali came to power in 1821, the Arabic-language magazine Al-Khedive (translated as “The Master”) began to be published. In 1875, Khedive Ismail simplified the licensing procedure, and the number of publications increased dramatically. Some of them, such as the daily Al-Ahram (Pyramids), still exist today. Gamal Abdel Nasser, who came to power in 1956, laid the foundations for the development of not only Egyptian society, but also its media system for decades to come.
The government owns a controlling stake in Egypt's three main national daily newspapers: Al-Ahram, Al-Akhbar (The News), and Al- Gumhuria (The Republic). Their editors are appointed by the head of the National Council for Print Media. The national newspapers are financed by government subsidies and advertising, but both sources of income have been declining in recent years.
Private publications that appeared on the market in 2004 are becoming increasingly popular: Al-Masry al- Yawm (The Egyptian Today) and Nahdat Masr (Egypt's Awakening). Al-Masry al- Yawm was able to compete with Al-Ahram thanks to its informal style of news reporting, which differed from the formal format of state publications. Now, Al-Yawm 7 (Today 7) and Al-Watan (Homeland) are also among the main private newspapers. The political unrest of 2011 and the subsequent economic downturn sharply reduced circulation.
Egypt is rightly considered a “television nation” – in a country with a population of about 112 million, television reaches almost 100% of the audience. The National Media Authority manages the national TV channels 1 and 2, the satellite network Nile Television Network, and Cairo Radio. Television activities are regulated by Law No. 92 of 2016, which provides for the establishment of the Supreme Council for Media Regulation (covering both the public and private sectors).
Private satellite television is particularly popular. The first private channels, Dream TV and El Mehwar, began broadcasting in the early 2000s. After the events in Tahrir Square and the rise to power of Abdel Fattah el-Sisi, many new private networks emerged, such as the Cairo Broadcasting Corporation. Most of them include thematic channels: news, sports, and entertainment. The liberalization of media policy under el-Sisi manifested itself, in particular, in allowing private channels to produce news programs: until 2011, this was the exclusive prerogative of state media.
Radio is the second most popular medium after television. Egypt has the most developed radio broadcasting system in the Arab world. Modern radio is organized on a network principle: Al-Bernameg el-Aam (General Program) is the first and main network, around which others have formed. Al-Mahaliya (Local Network) consists of 11 stations and is aimed at residents of different provinces.
Of particular note is Shabaket al-Izarat al-Muwagaha (Overseas Broadcasting Network), which began broadcasting in 1953 to eight regions under the slogan “Peace and Independence for All.” This network supported the sovereignty of African countries and had such a strong influence that other world broadcasters were forced to expand their presence in Africa to compete with Egyptian foreign broadcasting.
Egypt connected to the Internet in 1993. As of early 2023, the most popular social network is YouTube (45.9 million users), followed by Facebook, which is banned in Russia (42 million), and TikTok. The privately owned Al-Yawm 7 is ahead of state media in the online space: 13 million subscribers on Facebook (banned in Russia) versus 400 thousand for Al-Ahram. An important role is played by Law No. 180 of 2018, which requires the registration of online media and allows content to be blocked.
Given the negative experience of the revolution, the Egyptian authorities keep the media space under strict control. Despite all the challenges, the Egyptian media system maintains its leading position in the Arab world due to a unique combination of factors: a rich heritage, unrealized economic potential, professional personnel, and a huge market that makes up a third of the entire Arab population.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
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