Media war in Egypt

Events in Egypt are at the top of the news agenda in many countries worldwide. But this news story is being handled very differently, depending on where you stand.

If you are Egypt’s government – it is “Crisis? What crisis?” Lovely pictures of a sun-bathed Nile and not a placard in sight.

Contrast that with 24-hour coverage of demonstrators, security forces, tanks and the obvious tensions.

There is a media war over Egyptian street coverage. Is putting street views on air without censorship an incitement?

We look at the gap between the official media and the vernacular, private satellite TV, and independent newspapers and ask: who is telling the truth?

David Foster hosts this episode of Inside Story. Joining us from London is Osama Diab, an Egyptian journalist who contributes to the Guardian and the New Statesman. From Cairo, Hassan Hamed, the former head of the board of trustees of the Egyptian state broadcasting corporation. And joining us in Doha is Joe Khalil, an assistant professor of communications at Northwestern University.

This episode of Inside Story aired from Tuesday, February 1, 2011