Alhurra and Radio Sawa Mark Second Anniversary of the Egyptian Revolution
Springfield, Va. – Alhurra Television and Radio Sawa commemorate the second anniversary of the Egypt’s revolution with extensive coverage and programming. Alhurra and Radio Sawa’s network of correspondents are blanketing Egypt to provide comprehensive reporting of the historic occasion.
“Alhurra and Radio Sawa’s coverage of the second anniversary of the Egyptian revolution provides an opportunity to assess the progress made over the past two years and discusses problems that lay ahead,” stated MBN President Brian Conniff. MBN manages and operates Alhurra and Radio Sawa.
Starting Thursday, January 24th, Alhurra’s Al Youm broadcast live from Tahrir Square and Alexandria to mark the eve of the anniversary. The program aired reports from throughout the country taking a look at what has changed since the revolution. Al Youm interviewed Egyptian youth and asked them how their hopes two years ago compare to Egypt today. Alhurra’s Free Hour also examined Egypt, two years following the revolution.
Then today, January 25th, Alhurra will broadcast a series of reports focusing on religious freedom, the Egyptian economy, human rights, the role of religion in government and the rights of women after the revolution. Hiwar Cairo, Alhurra’s weekly political and social program from Egypt, will be expanded to two hours. All Directions guests including Michelle Dunne, USA Today’s Ray Locker and the American Task Force on Palestine’s Ziad Asali will examine President Obama’s relationship with Egypt and what to expect for the next four years; as well as the internal and regional politics facing Egyptian President Mohamed Morsi. Alhurra’s Eye on Democracy will look at Egypt’s human rights record over the past two years.
Alhurra’s Hunna (Arabic for Women’s Views) will highlight the rights of women in Egypt with the new constitution. Street Pulse, a weekly Egypt-based social magazine, will also look at the Egyptian revolution, including an interview with Ayman Ali, President Morsi’s Adviser for Egyptians Living Abroad.
The network will also broadcast several documentaries on the revolution, such as the television debut of the award-winning documentary Uprising. Called the authoritative behind the scenes view of the revolution, Uprising tells the story of the key organizers of the revolution and how the youth changed a nation.
Radio Sawa’s Egyptian stream will expand key newscasts to include live reports from around the country and the daily political feature program, Magazine, will examine the changes that occurred in Egypt since the revolution including the democratic experience and the status of the economy.
MBN’s Digital team has launched a Facebook page where Egyptians can share their photos and videos. The page will include a timeline highlighting the most important events of the past two years in Egypt.
Alhurra’s coverage of the Egyptian revolution won the People’s Choice Award in the Association for International Broadcasting’s 2011 Media Excellence Awards. Radio Sawa’s reports covering the Egyptian revolution won the Gold Radio Award under the category of the Best Coverage of an Ongoing News Story and the Bronze Radio Award under the category of Special Report at the 2012 New York Festivals Radio Program & Promotion Awards®. Recent surveys by research companies such as ACNielsen show that together Alhurra and Radio Sawa have an unduplicated weekly reach of an estimated 31 million adults. Alhurra and Radio Sawa are operated by the non-profit corporation “The Middle East Broadcasting Networks, Inc.” (MBN). MBN is financed by the U.S. Government through a grant from the Broadcasting Board of Governors (BBG), an independent federal agency. The BBG serves oversight and as a firewall to protect the professional independence and integrity of the broadcasters.
Contact:
Deirdre Kline
Communications Director
Middle East Broadcasting Networks, Inc.
703-852-9250
dkline@alhurra.com