What About Egyptian Journalism?

Refan AbdelNabi 
Senior English Editor 

The Egyptian ‘journalist’ – Shaimaa Abdel Moniem – who asked Leonardo DiCaprio an unintelligible question at the Oscars has been given more attention than she should have, but I must address it from a professional standpoint.

Spending thousands on a journalism degree and having trouble finding employment in the field, whether private or public, shows just how flawed the industry currently is.

Egypt might not appreciate or see the importance of ethical and well-rounded journalism because it’s not a matter of how poorly she represented Egypt or Egyptians anymore.

First of all, why is she stating aloud the country she represents? A true journalist states their name and organization they work for.

The mere idea of introducing herself the way she did is a self-centered move.

Journalism isn’t about you or me. It is about the people: respecting your audience enough to deliver truth, being accurate, and most of all – not insulting their intelligence.

Saying she was nervous is the most ridiculous excuse ever.

If you know that you are the nervous type, then write down the question on a piece of paper in front of you and read it.

I’ll state the fact that yes, sometimes you find foreign reporters covering a press conference in the White House unaware that Iraq is in the Middle East – but shoddy journalism is never ok. Spare me the comparison with Western journalists, please.

Abdel Moniem is unqualified for such an opportunity and it is clear because she royally squandered it.

She hasn’t received the proper training, hasn’t prepared for the event and obviously had other priorities – taking pictures and writing an entire article about herself for … herself.

Career Day wasn’t too long ago and the minimal number of publications and news agencies on offer was disgraceful.

I was hoping to find salvation because of all the talk I hear about “you need to know people in media to make it” and “journalism is poverty and TV journalism is recycled garbage presented to the public as a distraction from real issues”.

The other element of surprise – well not really – is funding.

Youm7 was able to send such an unqualified ‘reporter’ to the Oscars?

These opportunities are make or break moments – and she just flushed her name down the toilet taking journalism along with it.

How can a country like Egypt still have language barriers in its media?

If private sectors pay for this ‘journalist’ to go all the way to the US to cover the Oscars, then why don’t they fund English language institutions – especially when journalists need to be well equipped to cover events worldwide?

This is more poignant given the limited options for media organizations in English are very limited – Daily News Egypt, Ahram or Nile TV – which we all know lack in diversity, originality and impact on the media empire as a whole.

This affair raises a lot of ethical questions that negatively characterize the current state of Egypt’s media.

After Abdel Moniem asked her ‘question’, she wrote that she scored an exclusive interview with DiCaprio although the only time they were ever in the same place was at the press conference amongst some 100 other journalists.

The Egyptian ‘journalist’ has not only polluted Egypt’s reputation – more so than ever – most importantly, she should be taken as an example of the lack of respect and seriousness Egypt – and maybe Arab countries – have towards this important industry.