EBU adds voice to mounting criticism of Egypt’s state broadcaster
Rebecca Hawkes ©RapidTVNews | 24-10-2011Egypt's public broadcaster is facing scrutiny from the European Broadcasting Union over alleged bias in reports of the deadly clashes between soldiers and Coptic Christians earlier this month.
The EBU's president Jean-Paul Philippot and director general Ingrid Deltentre have written to the Egyptian Radio and Television Union (ERTU) expressing "extreme concern" about its reporting of the riots in Cairo on 9 October, which saw 25 people killed.
The broadcaster, a member of the EBU, has been roundly criticised by domestic and international media for its coverage of the clashes, in which it is alleged it favoured the military.
The letter to ERTU's chairman, Tharwat Meki, states "membership of the EBU entails a commitment to independent and impartial reporting at the service of all sections of the population, including minorities".
In a statement, EBU said it acknowledges 'ERTU's institutional importance in Egypt's movement towards a democratic future, while asserting that high editorial standards, including the sensitive handling of potentially inflammatory news, are essential to every independent and credible public service broadcaster'.
EBU has, it says, helped many of its members through times of radical political transition, and is currently engaged in such a programme of assistance in Tunisia – along with the Arab States Broadcasting Union.
Reply With Quote