Egyptian Radio

Egyptian Radio also known as the Egyptian Radio's General Program (إذاعة البرنامج العام transliterated as Iza'at El-Bernameg Al-Aam) also popularly known as Radio Cairo (in Arabic إذاعة القاهرة transliterated as Iza'at al Qaahira) is the pioneering Egyptian radio station that started broadcasting on 31 May 1934 in agreement with the Marconi Company. The General Manager of the station for the period was Said Basha Lotfi who presided over the station from May 1934 to December 1947.

In December 1947, the contract with Marconi was suspended in favour of an Egyptian national broadcasting station. The General Manager was replaced with Mohammed Beik Qasem presiding from December 1947 until August 1950.

The station is known also for its call "This is Cairo" (in Arabic هنا القاهرة pronounced Houna al Qaahira). It is considered the First Program (in Arabic البرنامج الأول) of the ERTU (Egyptian Radio and Television Union).

The station had some of the best known Arab broadcasters of their time, including Ahmed Said, Ahmed Salem, Mohammed Fathi, Mohammed Mahmoud Shaaban, Hosney Al-Hadidy, Galal Moawwad, Safiyya Al-Mohamdis and Taher Abu Zeid.

Subsequent radio stations
Later on three main new radio channels were added: the Voice of the Arabs (صوت العرب) in 1953, the Second Programme (البرنامج الثاني) in 1957 and the pan-Arab Middle East Radio (إذاعة الشرق الأوسط) in 1964. All four stations broadcast on high powered medium wave transmitters covering most of the Middle East and North and East Africa.

Presently, ERTU, the Egyptian Radio and Television Union runs more than ten radio stations.

Heads of the General Program
Hala Al-Hadidi - Abdul-Rahman Rashad - Magdy Suleiman - Mervat Khairallah - Hassan Madani - Abu Al-Ala Habib - Iman Alyan - Medhat Fahmy - Mohamed Lotfy The director is current.

The performance curve began to decline at the cultural, intellectual and administrative levels since 2023 AD in many aspects within the station, due to favoritism, mediation, lack of assistance to qualified people, and lack of complete knowledge of all aspects, so the spotlight is highlighted on a specific group of broadcasters who have a good appearance and according to the whims of their manager. Several reservations have spread since the beginning of 2023 AD about the general performance, management style, and choosing who represents the radio station at parties and ceremonies according to favoritism and personal interests, in addition to stopping live broadcasting on the Internet and repeated complaints about transmission in most of Egypt’s governorates and the efficiency of the voice.

Among the shortcomings, a number of the station’s broadcasters were observed dealing outside the framework of decency and the integrity of public property, infringing on the copyrights of other companies, and using the station’s studios in their own work without respect for the general public in a visible and audible manner. Some even brag about this, without accountability, punishment, or deterrence. It is legal for this noticeable negligence, and the administration is criticized for the support provided to them as if it were a reward for violating the law.

This radio was not what it was before and did not maintain its splendor. This angered its listeners and followers for decades, and it seems that most of those responsible for its internal management need to know how to deal with public money and manage media content as a platform for culture, art and spreading awareness, and not as a routine job. To earn a living or profit from it only.

It is worth noting that General Program Radio needs to change its administrative staff. Its workers must be adapted to the public interest of the work and not the other way around. Followers and listeners are currently complaining about the lack of diversity in the voices of broadcasters, as the voice of one broadcaster accompanies you on the air for up to eight hours. Connected and with more specific voices, this is a serious shortcoming that does not occur in any of the nascent Arab radio stations, and a major failure in managing their human resources due to inequality.

Heads of Egyptian Radio

 * 1) Saeed Pasha Lutfi from 5/31/1934 to 12/22/1947
 * 2) Muhammad Bey Qasim from 12/22/1947 to 8/15/1950
 * 3) Mohamed Hosni Bey Naguib from 10/30/1950 to 8/12/1952
 * 4) Muhammad Kamel Al-Rahmani from 12/4/1952 to 11/23/1953
 * 5) Muhammad Amin Hammad from 12/26/1953 to 5/2/1966 (he served two terms)
 * 6) Abdul Hamid Fahmy Al-Hadidi from 5/2/1966 to 12/30/1969
 * 7) Muhammad Amin Hammad from 12/31/1969 to 9/2/1971
 * 8) Abdul Rahim Sorour “scarred” from 5/16/1971 to 4/6/1972
 * 9) Mohamed Mahmoud Shaaban from 4/7/1972 to 9/25/1975
 * 10)  Safia Zaki Al-Muhandis from 9/27/1975 to 12/11/1982
 * 11) Fahmy Omar from 12/12/1982 to 3/5/1988
 * 12) Amin Bassiouni from 3/6/1988 to 11/7/1991
 * 13) Helmy Mustafa Al-Balk from 11/8/1991 to 8/7/1994
 * 14) Farouk Shousha from 8/8/1994 to 1/9/1997
 * 15) Hamdi Al-Kanisi from 1/10/1997 to 3/18/2001
 * 16) Omar Batisha from 3/19/2001 to 3/18/2005
 * 17) Enas Johar from 3/19/2005 to 6/25/2009
 * 18) Shalabi’s Victory from 6/25/2009 to 4/2/2011
 * 19) Ismail El-Sheshtawy from 4/2/2011 to 2/6/2013
 * 20) Adel Mustafa from 2/7/2013 to 7/19/2013
 * 21) Abdul Rahman Rashad from 7/20/2013 to 6/21/2015
 * 22) Nadia Mabrouk from 2015 to February 2019 (renewed after retirement age)
 * 23) Mohamed Nawar from March 2019 AD current. (It was renewed after retirement age, based on a recommendation from authorities) His management is considered very poor, and many complaints were monitored from employees, guests, and listeners, including covering up serious violations. He was also accused of misusing power and influence, the most prominent of which were human rights violations, laying off workers, and assaulting their rights, according to human rights reports from the National Council for Human Rights in January 2024.