AUC Caravan

By Ragia Mostafa

Talk shows inspire people to ask for their rights influencing the government to take action, said 90 Minutes talk show host at the American University in Cairo on Monday.

Moataz El Demerdash said Egypt is witnessing some form of “political relaxation” that grants media more freedom.

Moaztaz El Demerdash,

“It’s a breakthrough…but I wouldn’t call it a democracy,” El Demerdash said at a lecture on the role of talk shows in Egyptian society organized by the Kamal Adham center for journalism training and research.

El Demerdash’s show is watched by millions of viewers in Egypt and the Middle East every night. The show, which was launched by Al Mehwar channel in Aug. 2006, was not ready for the professional western journalism practices, he said.

However, since its launch the show’s influence grew rapidly and its popularity increased. “People needed such a show,” El Demerdash said.

Egyptians resort to talk shows to voice their concerns and demand more rights, he said.

Talk shows in Egypt are the voice people have to point out government flaws.

El Demerdash believes his show is an “inspiration for people to ask for their rights” and that change will happen over time.

He admitted he was reluctant to join an Egyptian program at first, because of lack of professionalism and government influence over media content.

Mehwar’s biggest shareholder, Hassan Rateb, is a member of the National Democratic Party and sometimes interferes with the content of the three-hour show.

“I’m not the kind of guy to give up on professionalism and say ‘Yes, master’,” he said.

However, El Demerdash acknowledges that Rateb is a businessman with his own interests, and if he disturbs the government he may become just a “man without a business.”

Nonetheless, El Demerdash said his goal is to blend his employer’s business needs with his idea of professionalism to create an interesting show.

As hard as El Demerdash tries to maintain the show’s standards, he admits the reporters need training. According to him, they tend to get carried away with emotions sometimes and insert their own opinions.

El Demerdash insists that the show should continue to cover controversial issues, despite government restrictions. Ignoring these issues, he said is like “[burying] our heads in the sand.”