The Egyptian National Media Authority (ENMA) announced Saturday that it will prosecute rumor mongers targeting “plan of action to develop the official TV Station.”
It also denied “waiving the frequency of the state satellite channel,” affirming that the channel is one of the soft power tools of the national media. “It targets the public inside and outside Egypt and cannot be relinquished to any party.”
ENMA appealed to “all media outlets to be cautious and accurate in dealing with such matters that would create confusion and affect the workflow in a national media institution.”
“We are in dire need to join hands to confront rumors and lies aimed at destabilizing the country and activate work in the state’s various institutions.”
State-owned satellite channels are broadcasting a preliminary advertising campaign for amendments to the program plans, and for the broadcasters who will appear on the Egyptian TV screens.
Some two months ago, Speaker Ali Abdel Aal addressed “political, partisan and media reforms” during a parliament session
MP Mustafa Bakri warned in the same session against the “death of partisan life and the silencing of whoever has a patriotic opposing opinion,” stressing that both opinions should be represented in the media.
ENMA stressed it is not planning to dismiss any of the channel’s employees, adding that their skills, instead, “will be developed based on their expertise.”
Parliament approved late in December a cabinet reshuffle, in which President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi gave Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly direct authority over the investment and administrative reform portfolios.
It also reinstated the country’s information ministry, Osama Haikal, who served in the post from 2011 to 2012.
Earlier this month, Sisi met with Haikal to underline the significance of the media’s role in shaping citizen awareness, in light of national and international developments.
