Throwing a spotlight: The media´s capacaties for facilitating economic development in Egypt
Sustainable economic development is not limited to economic growth. Above all, it entails the achievement of a more equitable society guaranteeing at least minimum standards of living.
Poverty is the main obstacle for meeting most human rights so reducing it is on the political agenda of the international community as the main focus of the MDGs.
In the recent uprisings in Tunisia and Egypt the grassroots protests have not only been for democracy. Instead, the countries’ labor movement joined the youth over bread-and-butter issues: People have called for a new perspective: a better life, a job, better living conditions, better education. Therefore, introducing economic reforms to develop a competitive, non-discriminatory, and equitable economy is key beyond establishing constitutional democracy. And it’s the only way to ensure fundamental human rights like the rights to food, water, sanitation, health care, education and housing.
Within this process, the media play a crucial role. They are the ones who provide the public with the information needed to understand economic changes and developments as well as their impact on everyday life. Hence, the media must be equipped to report comprehensively on economic issues - creating critical awareness about prudent economic policies.
The workshop will give insights into the challenges the media face in transitional countries that come along with economic reforms paralleled by a higher degree of freedom of expression. We will compare the situation in Egypt with the experiences in other countries, such as in Indonesia, and explore ways for the media to actively contribute to promote sustainable economic development.
Moderation:
Astrid Kohl
Head of the International Institute for Journalism (IIJ) of Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit (GIZ)
Panelists:
Yasser Alwan
Photographer and Human Rights Activist, Cairo
Wael Gamar
Managing Editor of Al Shorouk Daily Newspaper, Cairo
Magda Kandil
Executive Director and Director of Research of the Egyptian Center for Economic Studies ( ECES), Cairo
Riyadi Suparno
Vice Executive Director of The Jakarta Post, Jarkarta, Indonesia