Egypt's main public broadcaster has been taken to task by the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) for allegedly biased reporting of a Cairo riot on 9 October.
The EBU's president, Jean-Paul Philippot, and director general, Ingrid Deltenre, have written to the Egyptian Radio and Television Union (ERTU) to express their "extreme concern" about its reporting of clashes between Coptic Christians and Egypt's security forces.
ERTU, a member of the EBU, has been widely criticised by other media both within the country and internationally.
It is alleged that the broadcaster's presenters did not report the events in an independent and impartial way. Some critics claim that ERTU encouraged its viewers to side with the military.
In their letter to ERTU's chairman, Tharwat Meki, the EBU officials highlight the fact that "membership of the EBU entails a commitment to independent and impartial reporting at the service of all sections of the population, including minorities".
They also acknowledge ERTU's institutional importance in Egypt's movement towards a democratic future, while asserting that high editorial standards, including the sensitive handling of potentially inflammatory news, are essential to every independent and credible public service broadcaster.
Source: EBU
