INVESTIGATIVE APPROACH OF ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES IN EGYPTIAN NEWSPAPERS

Abstract

The aim of this research is to monitor and analyze the investigative treatment of environmental issues in the Egyptian newspapers, evaluating as well these treatments in the light of the scientific rules of the investigative press and the influential factors such as editorial policy, the legislative environment in regards to the right to obtain information, and the role of international and regional specialized institutions in the investigative journalism which work in Egypt. This researchbelongs to descriptive type of studies that are interested in studying reality of the present phenomenon in terms of the theory of social responsibility. The research counts on the media survey method. The research has tackled with these newspapers: Al-Misry Al-Youm, Al-Destour, El-Youm El-Sabei, and Al-Watan since their establishments and till their November 2018; because they have units for investigative press and well-trained journalists. The topics’ sample comprehensive survey of environmental investigative topics has rreached (37) topics. The researcher has used these two tools: 1- Qualitative content analysis on 38 environmental investigative topics. 2- In-depth interviewswith a sample of (44) respondentsthat has included (17) journalists, 13 editorial leaders, academics in environmental press, and (14) officials of Ministry of Environment. The most important results of study come as follows: 1- Pollution issues occupy the first position followed by wasting resources then the biodiversity in the third rank. 2- Local issues come first followed by the national issues in the 2nd rank. 3- All topics have focused on reasons of the problem, its effects and neglected the role of the citizen. 4- Experts come in the first rank as a source of information followed by citizens having problems in the 2nd rank then the authorities in charge in the 3rd position. 5- The “investigation” comes in the 1st rank as a journalistic pattern followed by the journalistic file. 6- Journalists sought disguise and hiding identity in 21 topics out of 38 topics. 7- Journalists have used styles of emotional and intellectual persuasion in all topics. 8- They have determined the difficulties they meet at investigative treatment of environment’s issues in case of unavailability of information and avoidance of responsible resources and their refusal to cooperate. The research recommends the following: Establishment of Egyptian organization for supporting investigative journalism to undertake training and funding. Teaching investigative journalism subject to the students of the press departments in faculties of media since specialization and to graduation. Concerning with teaching environmental press as a subject included in curricula of specialized press subject.