 The Media Development Program (MDP) is a five-year, USAID-funded program to improve the professionalism, sustainability and diversity of Egypt’s media sector through training, equipment and business modeling. Since its launch in April 2006, MDP has established itself as the key provider of international media assistance in the country. Its ultimate objective is helping Egypt become a regional media hub of reference. 
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Egyptian Media Giant Moves to Balanced, Multimedia Reporting The USAID-funded Media Development Program (MDP), implemented by MSI, trained journalists in Egypt’s largest print news company, Al Ahram, in producing balanced reporting and learning additional multimedia skills. Al Ahram employs more than 10,000 people and produces more than a dozen daily, weekly and monthly publications. More than a thousand media professionals trained on subjects such as writing for the Web and page layout and design. Reporters were immersed in an intensive English courses designed specifically to serve journalists’ needs. Columnists from independent newspapers and bloggers publicly praised the institution’s bold push to modernize. "Amazing how Al-Ahram covered this story in what could be almost described as a ‘balanced’ reporting," popular activist blogger Hossam Hamalawy of Arabawy.org wrote on Ahram’s coverage of a June 12 police brutality case. The state-affiliated Al Ahram has begun to catch up to private-sector competitors in offering professional and in-demand digital media products, while improving and diversifying its traditional print titles. Al Ahram’s Web portal has had the most significant developments, including a more user-friendly interface, greater interactivity with readers, a focus on youth and social networking features and incorporating multimedia infographics into storytelling. The project concludes with a state-of-the-art newsroom and digital training facility in late 2010. MSI has been implementing the MDP in Egypt since 2006 as the country transitions toward liberalization and a more diverse media. Based in Cairo, the city with the largest Arab population worldwide, the project has aimed to train and develop the capabilities of staff from media managers to new journalists. It also aims to improve the print and broadcast industries’ economic viability, strengthen the professionalism of local media and improve the objectivity of the nation’s media. The project also extends to the Egyptian governorates of Alexandria, Minya and Aswan, networking journalists with one another and serving citizens’ needs. In addition to Al Ahram, the MDP has worked with the Middle East News Agency Training Center, Cairo University’s Faculty of Mass Communications, Supreme Press Council, Al Akhbar (“The News”) Training Center, Biblioteca Alexandria. Results from these trainings have included investigative reporting, use of infographics and human interest pieces, expressive photojournalism and two new media law and media management post-graduate courses at Cairo University. Go to our Practice Areas section to access more projects by category |
