marwa amer
Nov 7, 2014
Scholarship / "but suddenly everything was changed, after the project's founder death " statement for chevening [2]
The main reason why I apply for the scholarship is to have a remarkable knowledge and experiences in a country which has been able to build one of the best quality media industries all over the world. The UK developed a media system distinguished by diversity, objectivity, creativity and independency.
That's why the UK is the destination for anyone working in media and willing to develop his skills and answer the most important question for journalists in the Third World: How to construct a new media environment based on independency in content, away from the political dynamics. With a special interest in understanding how to prosper in an industry undergoing constant fundamental change through learning the commercial, strategic and managerial skills by studying media management and creative entrepreneurship for media and communications .
By the end of 2011, I was lucky to join one of the biggest media institutions the British broadcast cooperation "BBC", It was a wake up call getting me to critically analyze the Egyptian media institutions and believes that they are desperately in need of reform, including the application of editorial and ethical guidelines especially after the 30th of June protests against the former Islamist president Mohamed Morsi.
In the time I was able to cover the events objectively without any interfering from my managers, I witnessed how the Egyptian media practices were polarized and the consequences of the partial editorial policies of different channels on the journalists' coverage.
All these circumstances led me to think about how to apply BBC's model on the Egyptian local media but I never felt it's impossible, so once I found the opportunity I resigned from BBC to establish a new local digital portal called "DOTMSR" with a group of intellectual journalists who were aiming to the same target.
Over 8 months we worked on the project, where I was fully able to apply the quality standards for a creative, informative and objective content.
Through my job as a video managing editor I established the video team which consisted of 15 Video Journalists, 4 presenters, 4 producers. We were aiming to be the first digital portal according to the international standards such as Huff post and the Guardian websites. We were the first Egyptian news website which owns studios to present online programs and news bulletins.
But the dream did not last for long as everything changed when the main founder of the project and the editor in chief passed away suddenly. The investors appointed a new editor in chief who did major changes in DOTMSR editorial guideline to be more close to the tabloid journalism seeking for high visibility.
The new situation compelled me to leave my job at DOTMSR, although I didn't have alternative jobs, but because I refuse to be part of editorial policies that I don't believe in them.
I am trying to turn back to my career track through pursuing a master degree in media management and creative entrepreneurship in the UK, to have the opportunity to develop my media management and creative skills. Where I would be able to establish my own media project
The experience I am looking for to gain at the UK also be one of the consideration factors for my future career; not only in my current institution, but also if there are better opportunities available to serve my country."
The main reason why I apply for the scholarship is to have a remarkable knowledge and experiences in a country which has been able to build one of the best quality media industries all over the world. The UK developed a media system distinguished by diversity, objectivity, creativity and independency.
That's why the UK is the destination for anyone working in media and willing to develop his skills and answer the most important question for journalists in the Third World: How to construct a new media environment based on independency in content, away from the political dynamics. With a special interest in understanding how to prosper in an industry undergoing constant fundamental change through learning the commercial, strategic and managerial skills by studying media management and creative entrepreneurship for media and communications .
By the end of 2011, I was lucky to join one of the biggest media institutions the British broadcast cooperation "BBC", It was a wake up call getting me to critically analyze the Egyptian media institutions and believes that they are desperately in need of reform, including the application of editorial and ethical guidelines especially after the 30th of June protests against the former Islamist president Mohamed Morsi.
In the time I was able to cover the events objectively without any interfering from my managers, I witnessed how the Egyptian media practices were polarized and the consequences of the partial editorial policies of different channels on the journalists' coverage.
All these circumstances led me to think about how to apply BBC's model on the Egyptian local media but I never felt it's impossible, so once I found the opportunity I resigned from BBC to establish a new local digital portal called "DOTMSR" with a group of intellectual journalists who were aiming to the same target.
Over 8 months we worked on the project, where I was fully able to apply the quality standards for a creative, informative and objective content.
Through my job as a video managing editor I established the video team which consisted of 15 Video Journalists, 4 presenters, 4 producers. We were aiming to be the first digital portal according to the international standards such as Huff post and the Guardian websites. We were the first Egyptian news website which owns studios to present online programs and news bulletins.
But the dream did not last for long as everything changed when the main founder of the project and the editor in chief passed away suddenly. The investors appointed a new editor in chief who did major changes in DOTMSR editorial guideline to be more close to the tabloid journalism seeking for high visibility.
The new situation compelled me to leave my job at DOTMSR, although I didn't have alternative jobs, but because I refuse to be part of editorial policies that I don't believe in them.
I am trying to turn back to my career track through pursuing a master degree in media management and creative entrepreneurship in the UK, to have the opportunity to develop my media management and creative skills. Where I would be able to establish my own media project
The experience I am looking for to gain at the UK also be one of the consideration factors for my future career; not only in my current institution, but also if there are better opportunities available to serve my country."
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