Egyptian journalist Ahmed Moussa urged high school graduates "not to enroll in mass communications faculties," sparking academic criticism, rejecting the "seasonal attack" against media and journalism colleges.
Speaking during an episode of his televised program on the Sada al-Balad, Moussa advised high school students not to enroll, claiming there are no job opportunities for media and journalism graduates.
Moussa said television channels would not be able to absorb all graduates, just as there are no employments in national press institutions.
The Arab Organization for Dialogue is preparing a statement in response to Moussa and plans to collect signatures from media and journalism graduates and others, emphasizing the importance of the academic study of mass communications.
The Head of the organization, Hanan Youssef, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the controversy over media and mass communications studies had been a recurring issue over recent years, but it has escalated after Moussa's statements.
Youssef confirmed that the studies are complex amid successive developments in the digital age, pointing out that employment is linked to the skill and capabilities of the graduate.
She stressed that no one could cancel the mass communications and journalism major, noting that such controversy frustrates the graduates.
Also, the former dean of the Faculty of Information at Cairo University, Hassan Imad Makkawi, indicated that at the beginning of every academic year, there is an attack against the faculty of information.
Makkawi told Asharq Al-Awsat that no major could be canceled because of claims about lack of job opportunities, asserting the importance of such studies.
The academic recently published a series of articles under the title "Season of Attack on the Media" in response to the criticisms.
Makkawi admitted that there is an increased number of majors without studying the market need, which does not apply to the media alone, asserting that some colleges and professors develop their curricula daily to keep pace with the digital media era.
Each year, some journalists and media professionals advise students to refrain from any major in the media, claiming it is difficult to find a job offer, adding that many newspapers and TV channels will be shut down.
Some also criticize information faculties, claiming that they do not provide an education that matches the successive developments in the profession.
The argument intensifies on social media and tv programs, and they argue that the number of media graduates exceeds the market's needs.
