The political economy of Egyptian media : business and military elite power and communication after 2011

"This book critically analyses the hegemony of Egypt's business and military elites and the private media they own or control. Arguing that this hegemony requires the exercise of power to maintain consent under changing conditions such as the 2011 uprising and the 2013 military coup, the book answers the central question of why and how Egypt's ruling elites control the media. Situated within the interdisciplinary domain of 'critical political economy of communication', it focuses on popular privately-owned newspapers and TV channels and their ownerships using a qualitative approach involving 20 interviews conducted over five years with key actors and experts in the Egyptian media landscape for unprecedented insight. The first book on the political economy of Egyptian media, the book serves as a case study and a country profile for of appeal to scholars and experts of Middle Eastern Studies, media and the political economy of communication, among others"-- Provided by publisher Cover Halftitle page Title page Copyright page Contents 1 Introduction 2 A Critical Overview of Egypt’s Media Market Egypt’s neoliberal capitalism and the business elite Structural phases of the military’s business empire A brief history of Egyptian media The business elite’s interest in media control Teaming between investors and media personnel Shifting media ownership: from the business elite to the military Conclusion 3 A Political Economy of Egypt’s Distorted Advertising Market Neoliberalization and the introduction of a new advertising market Advertising agencies and political propaganda under Mubarak The military as advertisers under al-Sisi Conclusion 4 Social Media as a Political Space The internet as a political space prior to 2011 Social media as a revolutionary messenger Militarizing social media: the business of e-committees Intensifying e-surveillance post 2013 Conclusion 5 The Fall of Mubarak and Morsi: A Review of News Coverage A review of the coverage of the uprising and Mubarak’s fall A review of the coverage of the period following Mubarak’s fall The emergence of Tamarod News framing of the coup and Morsi’s fall A review of coverage of al-Sisi as ‘the saviour’ Conclusion 6 The Military as Media Producers: Politics and Drama on al-Sisi’s TV Freedom of expression: only against the Muslim Brotherhood Violence against journalists: police and the ‘Honourable Citizens Demonizing critical news outlets Military monopoly over the TV drama business Conclusion 7 Conclusion Notes Bibliography Index This book critically analyses the hegemony of Egypt's business and military elites and the private media they own or control. Arguing that this hegemony requires the exercise of power to maintain consent under changing conditions such as the 2011 uprising and the 2013 military coup, the book answers the central question of why and how Egypt's ruling elites control the media. Situated within the interdisciplinary domain of 'critical political economy' (CPE), the book focuses on popular privately-owned newspapers and TV channels and their ownership using a qualitative approach involving fifteen interviews conducted over seven years with key actors and experts in the Egyptian media landscape for unprecedented insight. As the first book on the political economy of Egyptian media, The Political Economy of Egyptian Media serves as a case study and a country profile and will be of appeal to scholars and experts of Middle Eastern studies, political sciences, media and the political economy of communication, among others.