Editor and presenter of Egypt's controversial "Last Word" current affairs talk show at Egypt's ONTV. The former chief investigative correspondent and executive produce for Al Jazeera's top show "Sirri Lilghayah (Top Secret), he is best known for his exclusive 48-hour encounter with the masterminds of the 9/11 attacks against New York and Washington. Fouda also investigated a wide range of issues in the course of his journalistic career, including extraordinary rendition, Israel-Hizbollah POW exchange, the smuggling of Mujahideen into Iraq, the killing of Osama bin Laden’s brother-in-law, and the siege of the Church of Nativity. Co-author of the bestseller, Masterminds of Terror, his articles have appeared in various newspapers including The Sunday Times, The Guardian and The Mail on Sunday. He has also contributed to Associated Press TV and Arab News Network. From 1994-1996, Fouda was a roving correspondent for BBC World Service Arabic. Based in London since 1994, he played the major role in founding AlJazeera office in the British capital in 1996 where he served as bureau chief. He has won numerous awards including the pan-Arab Cairo Radio and TV Production Festival award (1998), AUC’s “Outstanding Professional Performance” award (2000), and together with Nick Fielding, has been recognized by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) for “Outstanding International Investigative Reporting” (2003). Mr. Fouda holds a Masters in TV journalism from the American University in Cairo, where he taught practical aspects of TV production. He also taught mass communication and various media courses at Cairo University from 1986 to 1992. In 2009 he went back to Cairo to join ONTV as the key evening host. During and after the Egyptian revolution his daily show was rated first in Egypt according to Mad Talkshow.
| 18:30 - 20:00 | Ballroom : Second Plenary: "The State of Arab Media in Transition"Three years after the so-called "Arab Spring", the media environment in most of the countries involved in the uprising has undergone a troubled transition and the media is making an industry out of the political polarization between the new and old regimes on the one hand and the Muslin Brotherhood and their opposition on the other hand. The media industry remains deeply polarized, shifting editorial stances and trading allegiances. Hence, media outlets have not been able to establish themselves as a forum for public discussion and debate. The notion of media as society's watchdog and guardian of public interest remains clouded. Many journalists and editors remain stuck between the warm laps of those in power and the role and duty of the "The Fourth Estate". Why has Arab media failed both to embrace the values of a sacred profession and to restore public confidence in its ability to expose the truth? Are chief editors and new rulers really keen on encouraging a professional and responsible media based on in-depth reporting in favor of accountability to promote national reconciliation and to help lay the ground rules for a functioning transition to democracy? Will investigative Journalism that can name and shame officials die or flourish? These are some of the questions this session will address. Moderators
Yosri Foude / EgyptEditor and presenter of Egypt's controversial "Last Word" current affairs talk show at Egypt's ONTV. The former chief investigative correspondent and executive produce for Al Jazeera's top show "Sirri Lilghayah (Top Secret), he is best known for his exclusive 48-hour encounter with the masterminds of the 9/11 attacks against New York and Washington. Fouda also investigated a wide range of issues in the course of his journalistic career, including extraordinary rendition, Israel-Hizbollah POW exchange, the smuggling of Mujahideen into Iraq, the killing of Osama bin Laden’s brother-in-law, and the siege of the Church of Nativity. Co-author of the bestseller, Masterminds of Terror, his articles have appeared in various newspapers including The Sunday Times, The Guardian and The Mail on Sunday. He has also contributed to Associated Press TV and Arab News Network. From 1994-1996, Fouda was a roving correspondent for BBC World Service Arabic. Based in London since 1994, he played the major role in founding AlJazeera office in the British capital in 1996 where he served as bureau chief. He has won numerous awards including the pan-Arab Cairo Radio and TV Production Festival award (1998), AUC’s “Outstanding Professional Performance” award (2000), and together with Nick Fielding, has been recognized by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) for “Outstanding International Investigative Reporting” (2003). Mr. Fouda holds a Masters in TV journalism from the American University in Cairo, where he taught practical aspects of TV production. He also taught mass communication and various media courses at Cairo University from 1986 to 1992. In 2009 he went back to Cairo to join ONTV as the key evening host. During and after the Egyptian revolution his daily show was rated first in Egypt according to Mad Talkshow. Speakers
Dr. Hamida El-Bour / TunisiaFormer journalist and deputy director, Institute of Press and Sciences Information at Manouba University (Tunisia). |
