Journal de communication de masse et de journalisme

Who is Telling the Truth about the Egyptian Uprising 2011? Al-Jazeera versus the Egyptian Television

Abstract

Mustafa Hashim Taha

This paper examines Al-Jazeera television channel’s coverage of the Egyptian popular uprising and investigates the alleged bias in reporting that led the Egyptian authorities to close down al-Jazeera’s office in Cairo. The paper uses framing and qualitative content analysis to explore Al-Jazeera’s headlines as well as sources of information and news, particularly the interviewees on Friday, Jan. 25, 2011 (Friday of Anger). It also examines the sites of demonstrations highlighted in the coverage, namely Maidan al-Tahrir (Liberation Square). To see the divergence in news coverage, the paper juxtaposes Al-Jazeera’s coverage and the official Egyptian television’s coverage of the protest. It concludes that al-Jazeera’s sources were predominantly leading figures in the Muslim Brotherhood, Islamists, and political groups calling for Mubarak’s downfall. Al-Jazeera’s interviewees and headlines saw no merit in the reshuffling of the government and considered that as a ploy to gain time and perpetuate Mubarak’s repressive rule. On the other hand, the official Egyptian television, unsurprisingly, underscored and deplored acts of vandalism (Baltajah in Arabic), praised young protestors’ efforts to protect the Egyptian national museum, called for calm, and asked the people to protect Egypt’s security. In a nutshell, al-Jazeera’s reporting was anti-government, highlighting voices demanding the toppling of the government, and calling for Mubarak’s departure.