الْعَدَدُ الْأَوَّلُ

مِنَ الْقَاهِرَةِ إِلَى طُوكْيُو وَوَاشِنْطُنَ

خَمْسَةٌ وَأَرْبَعُونَ عَامًا خَلْفَ الْمِيكْرُوفُونِ مَعَ الْإِعْلَامِيِّ مُحَمَّدٍ عَبْدِ الْكَرِيمِ

From Cairo to Tokyo and Washington

Forty Five Years Behind the Microphone with Mohamed Abdelkarim

The Dr. Ali Zohery Podcast Weekly

الْمَجَلَّةُ الرَّقْمِيَّةُ وَأَرْشِيفُ بُودْكَاسْتِ الدُّكْتُورِ عَلِيٍّ الزُّهَيْرِيِّ

الْعَدَدُ الْأَوَّلُ

مِنَ الْقَاهِرَةِ إِلَى طُوكْيُو وَوَاشِنْطُنَ

خَمْسَةٌ وَأَرْبَعُونَ عَامًا خَلْفَ الْمِيكْرُوفُونِ مَعَ الْإِعْلَامِيِّ مُحَمَّدٍ عَبْدِ الْكَرِيمِ

From Cairo to Tokyo and Washington

Forty Five Years Behind the Microphone with Mohamed Abdelkarim

Watch the complete episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Y10obahSjAE

إِعْدَادُ هَيْئَةِ تَحْرِيرِ بُودْكَاسْتِ الدُّكْتُورِ عَلِي الزُّهَيْرِيِّ

مُلَخَّصُ الْحَلْقَةِ

يَسْتَضِيفُ الدُّكْتُورُ عَلِيٌّ الزُّهَيْرِيُّ فِي هَذِهِ الْحَلْقَةِ الْإِعْلَامِيَّ الْمِصْرِيَّ الْقَدِيرَ الْأُسْتَاذَ مُحَمَّدَ عَبْدَ الْكَرِيمِ، فِي حِوَارٍ يَتَتَبَّعُ مَسِيرَةً مِهْنِيَّةً امْتَدَّتْ أَكْثَرَ مِنْ خَمْسَةٍ وَأَرْبَعِينَ عَامًا بَيْنَ الْإِذَاعَةِ وَالتِّلْفِزْيُونِ وَالتَّرْجَمَةِ وَإِنْتَاجِ الْأَفْلَامِ الْوَثَائِقِيَّةِ. وَتَنْتَقِلُ الْحَلْقَةُ مَعَ ضَيْفِهَا مِنْ شِبِينِ الْكَوْمِ إِلَى الْقَاهِرَةِ، ثُمَّ إِلَى طُوكْيُو، وَأَخِيرًا إِلَى وَاشِنْطُنَ؛ لِتُقَدِّمَ شَهَادَةً مُبَاشِرَةً عَلَى تَحَوُّلَاتِ الْإِعْلَامِ خِلَالَ نِصْفِ قَرْنٍ تَقْرِيبًا.

يَكْشِفُ الْحِوَارُ أَنَّ النَّجَاحَ الْإِعْلَامِيَّ لَمْ يَكُنْ عِنْدَ مُحَمَّدٍ عَبْدِ الْكَرِيمِ مَسْأَلَةَ صَوْتٍ جَمِيلٍ فَقَطْ؛ بَلْ ثَمَرَةَ قِرَاءَةٍ مُبَكِّرَةٍ، وَإِتْقَانٍ لِلُّغَةِ، وَتَدْرِيبٍ مُكَثَّفٍ، وَاحْتِرَامٍ لِلْكَلِمَةِ وَالْجُمْهُورِ. وَيَظْهَرُ هَذَا الْمَعْنَى فِي كُلِّ مَحَطَّةٍ مِنْ مَحَطَّاتِ رِحْلَتِهِ، مِنِ اخْتِبَارَاتِ الْإِذَاعَةِ الْمِصْرِيَّةِ إِلَى مِيثَاقِ صَوْتِ أَمْرِيكَا، وَمِنْ تَجْرِبَةِ رَادْيُو الْيَابَانِ إِلَى نَظْرَتِهِ الْمُتَوَازِنَةِ لِلذَّكَاءِ الِاصْطِنَاعِيِّ.

مِنْ شِبِينِ الْكَوْمِ إِلَى مَبْنَى مَاسْبِيرُو

وُلِدَ مُحَمَّدٌ عَبْدُ الْكَرِيمِ فِي مَدِينَةِ شِبِينِ الْكَوْمِ بِمُحَافَظَةِ الْمَنُوفِيَّةِ. وَيَسْتَعِيدُ فِي الْحَلْقَةِ صُورَةَ الْمَدِينَةِ قَبْلَ الِازْدِحَامِ الْحَدِيثِ، حَيْثُ الْخُضْرَةُ وَالْحَدِيقَةُ الْعَامَّةُ وَفَرْعُ النِّيلِ الَّذِي يَشُقُّهَا. وَفِي تِلْكَ الْبِيئَةِ نَمَا حُبُّهُ لِلْقِرَاءَةِ وَالْمُوسِيقَى وَالْخَطَابَةِ. قَرَأَ فِي صِغَرِهِ لِنَجِيبٍ مَحْفُوظٍ وَيُوسُفَ السِّبَاعِيِّ وَطَهَ حُسَيْنٍ وَالْعَقَّادِ وَإِحْسَانِ عَبْدِ الْقُدُّوسِ، وَكَانَ اسْتِمَاعُ وَالِدِهِ الدَّائِمُ إِلَى الرَّادْيُو مِنَ الْعَوَامِلِ الَّتِي قَرَّبَتْهُ مِنْ عَالَمِ الْإِذَاعَةِ.

دَرَسَ اللُّغَةَ الرُّوسِيَّةَ فِي كُلِّيَّةِ الْأَلْسُنِ بِجَامِعَةِ عَيْنِ شَمْسٍ، إِلَى جَانِبِ عِنَايَتِهِ بِالْعَرَبِيَّةِ وَالْإِنْجِلِيزِيَّةِ وَالْفَرَنْسِيَّةِ. وَيُقَدِّمُ فِي الْحِوَارِ خُلَاصَةً مُهِمَّةً لِهَذِهِ التَّجْرِبَةِ

«اللُّغَةُ هِيَ مِفْتَاحُ الْإِنْسَانِ إِلَى كَثِيرٍ مِنَ الثَّقَافَاتِ»

فَاللُّغَةُ، فِي رَأْيِهِ، لَيْسَتْ أَدَاةً لِلتَّرْجَمَةِ فَحَسْبُ؛ إِنَّهَا مَدْخَلٌ لِفَهْمِ الشُّعُوبِ وَثَقَافَاتِهَا. وَلِهَذَا يَرَى أَنَّ الْإِعْلَامِيَّ يَحْتَاجُ إِلَى إِتْقَانِ الْعَرَبِيَّةِ وَإِلَى لُغَةٍ أَجْنَبِيَّةٍ أَوْ أَكْثَرَ؛ لِأَنَّ سَلَامَةَ اللُّغَةِ هِيَ الْخُطْوَةُ الْأُولَى لِإِيصَالِ الرِّسَالَةِ بِدِقَّةٍ.

اخْتِبَارَاتٌ صَعْبَةٌ وَيَوْمٌ لَا يُنْسَى

بَدَأَتْ رِحْلَتُهُ الْمِهْنِيَّةُ فِي يَنَايِرَ عَامِ 1977، بَعْدَ مُسَابَقَةٍ إِذَاعِيَّةٍ امْتَدَّتِ اخْتِبَارَاتُهَا نَحْوَ عَامٍ. وَبِحَسَبِ ذِكْرَيَاتِهِ، تَقَدَّمَ نَحْوُ أَرْبَعَةِ آلَافِ شَخْصٍ، وَنَجَحَ فِي النِّهَايَةِ قُرَابَةُ أَرْبَعِينَ بَيْنَ مُذِيعٍ وَمُحَرِّرٍ وَمُتَرْجِمٍ. وَلَمَّا تَأَخَّرَ خِطَابُ النَّتِيجَةِ، ذَهَبَ بِنَفْسِهِ إِلَى مَبْنَى مَاسْبِيرُو، فَعَلِمَ أَنَّهُ نَجَحَ، وَطُلِبَ مِنْهُ أَنْ يَسْتَلِمَ عَمَلَهُ وَيَبْدَأَ التَّدْرِيبَ فِي الْيَوْمِ نَفْسِهِ. وَيَصِفُ ذَلِكَ الْيَوْمَ بِأَنَّهُ كَانَ مِنْ أَسْعَدِ أَيَّامِ حَيَاتِهِ.

لَمْ يَجْلِسِ الْمُذِيعُ الْجَدِيدُ أَمَامَ الْمِيكْرُوفُونِ مُبَاشَرَةً. تَلَقَّى تَدْرِيبًا عَامًّا لِمُدَّةِ ثَلَاثَةِ أَشْهُرٍ أَوْ أَرْبَعَةٍ، ثُمَّ جَلَسَ صَامِتًا إِلَى جَانِبِ مُذِيعٍ أَقْدَمَ، وَبَدَأَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ بِجُمَلٍ قَصِيرَةٍ، حَتَّى أَصْبَحَ قَادِرًا عَلَى قِرَاءَةِ نَشْرَةٍ كَامِلَةٍ وَإِدَارَةِ نَوْبَةِ بَثٍّ. وَمِنْ هُنَا تَشَكَّلَتْ فَلْسَفَتُهُ فِي الْعَمَلِ الْإِذَاعِيِّ

«لِلْمِيكْرُوفُونِ رَهْبَةٌ وَقَدَاسَةٌ؛ لِأَنَّكَ تَتَحَدَّثُ إِلَى الْجَمَاهِيرِ وَتُبَلِّغُهُمْ رِسَالَةً»

هَذِهِ الْقَدَاسَةُ عِنْدَهُ لَيْسَتْ وَصْفًا لِقِطْعَةٍ مِنَ الْمَعْدِنِ، بَلْ لِلْمَسْؤُولِيَّةِ الَّتِي يَحْمِلُهَا الْإِعْلَامِيُّ عِنْدَمَا يُخَاطِبُ مَلَايِينَ الْمُسْتَمِعِينَ. فَعَلَيْهِ أَنْ يَكُونَ صَادِقًا وَمُسْتَعِدًّا وَمُرَكِّزًا فِي كُلِّ كَلِمَةٍ.

إِذَاعَةُ الشَّبَابِ وَصِنَاعَةُ الْمُذِيعِ

اِنْضَمَّ فِي أَوَاخِرِ عَامِ 1977 إِلَى إِذَاعَةِ الشَّبَابِ تَحْتَ قِيَادَةِ الْإِذَاعِيِّ إِيهَابِ الْأَزْهَرِيِّ. وَكَانَتِ الْمَحَطَّةُ بِيئَةً شَابَّةً تَجْمَعُ زُمَلَاءَ مُتَقَارِبِينَ فِي السِّنِّ، وَتَتِيحُ لَهُمْ اقْتِرَاحَ الْبَرَامِجِ وَالِابْتِكَارَ دَاخِلَ قَوَاعِدِ الْعَمَلِ الْمِهْنِيِّ. عُيِّنَ كَبِيرًا لِلْمُذِيعِينَ عَامَ 1980، ثُمَّ تَوَلَّى مَهَامَّ رِئَاسَةِ قِسْمِ التَّنْفِيذِ وَالْإِشْرَافِ عَلَى الْبَثِّ وَجَدَاوِلِ الْمُذِيعِينَ وَتَدْرِيبِ الْجُدُدِ.

وَيُظْهِرُ حَدِيثُهُ عَنْ مَعْهَدِ التَّدْرِيبِ الْإِذَاعِيِّ وَالتِّلْفِزْيُونِيِّ مَدَى جِدِّيَّةِ إِعْدَادِ الْمُذِيعِ فِي تِلْكَ الْفَتْرَةِ. فَقَدْ دَرَّسَ لَهُمْ فَارُوقُ شُوشَةَ، وَإِيهَابُ الْأَزْهَرِيُّ، وَعَلِي عِيسَى، وَآمَالُ فَهْمِي، كَمَا دَرَّبَهُمُ الْفَنَّانُ عَبْدُ الْوَارِثِ عَسَرٌ عَلَى الْإِلْقَاءِ، وَدَرَّسَ لَهُمُ الْمُوسِيقَارُ عَبْدُ الْحَمِيدِ تَوْفِيقُ زَكِيٌّ التَّذَوُّقَ الْمُوسِيقِيَّ. وَخَرَجَ مِنْ هَذِهِ الْمَدْرَسَةِ بِأَرْبَعِ قِيَمٍ أَسَاسِيَّةٍ هِيَ الْإِعْدَادُ، وَالصِّدْقُ، وَالْمَوْضُوعِيَّةُ، وَالتَّوَازُنُ.

الْقَاهِرَةُ وَطُوكْيُو وَوَاشِنْطُنُ

كَانَتْ تَغْطِيَتُهُ أُسْبُوعَ الصَّدَاقَةِ الْمِصْرِيَّةِ الْأَلْمَانِيَّةِ عَامَ 1981 أَوَّلَ تَجْرِبَةٍ دُوَلِيَّةٍ مُبَكِّرَةٍ. أَرْسَلَ مِنْ أَلْمَانِيَا رَسَائِلَ صَوْتِيَّةً إِلَى الْإِذَاعَةِ، وَزَارَ اسْتُودْيُوهَاتٍ، وَعَادَ بِمَادَّةٍ وَاسِعَةٍ لِبَرْنَامَجِهِ الْعَالَمُ عِنْدَ أَطْرَافِ أَصَابِعِكَ. وَفَتَحَتْ لَهُ الرِّحْلَةُ بَابَ الْعَمَلِ فِي التِّلْفِزْيُونِ الْمِصْرِيِّ.

فِي عَامِ 1984 اِنْتَقَلَ إِلَى طُوكْيُو لِيَعْمَلَ مُذِيعًا أَوَّلَ فِي الْقِسْمِ الْعَرَبِيِّ بِإِذَاعَةِ الْيَابَانِ. تَوَلَّى تَحْرِيرَ النَّشْرَةِ الْيَوْمِيَّةِ وَقِرَاءَتَهَا، وَقَدَّمَ الْبَرَامِجَ وَأَجْرَى الْحِوَارَاتِ، كَمَا عَمِلَ مُرَاسِلًا لِلْإِذَاعَةِ الْمِصْرِيَّةِ. وَرَأَى فِي رَادْيُو الْيَابَانِ جِسْرًا لِلتَّعْرِيفِ بِالتَّقَدُّمِ الْعِلْمِيِّ وَالِاقْتِصَادِيِّ الْيَابَانِيِّ وَلِتَقْرِيبِ الْيَابَانِ مِنَ الْمُسْتَمِعِ الْعَرَبِيِّ. وَمِنْ بَيْنِ تَغْطِيَاتِهِ هُنَاكَ مَعْرِضٌ لِلْآثَارِ الْمِصْرِيَّةِ، وَلِقَاءَاتٌ مَعَ شَخْصِيَّاتٍ مِصْرِيَّةٍ وَعَرَبِيَّةٍ زَارَتِ الْيَابَانَ.

بَعْدَ اجْتِيَازِ مُسَابَقَةِ صَوْتِ أَمْرِيكَا، وَصَلَ إِلَى وَاشِنْطُنَ فِي أُكْتُوبَرَ 1989، وَبَدَأَ مَحَطَّةً اِسْتَمَرَّتْ نَحْوَ أَرْبَعَةٍ وَثَلَاثِينَ عَامًا. عَمِلَ مُذِيعًا وَمُحَرِّرًا وَمُتَرْجِمًا دُوَلِيًّا، وَشَارَكَ فِي إِنْتَاجِ الْبَرَامِجِ وَتَطْوِيرِهَا. وَقَدَّمَ بَرْنَامَجَ آفَاقٍ جَدِيدَةٍ فِي الْعِلْمِ، الَّذِي كَانَ يُطْلِعُ الْمُسْتَمِعِينَ عَلَى الْجَدِيدِ فِي الطِّبِّ وَالتِّكْنُولُوجِيَا وَالْفَضَاءِ، كَمَا ابْتَكَرَ بَرْنَامَجَ نَحْوَ حَيَاةٍ أَفْضَلَ.

فِي عَامِ 1996 اخْتِيرَ بَعْدَ مُسَابَقَةٍ دَاخِلِيَّةٍ لِتَقْدِيمِ نَدْوَةِ الْأُسْبُوعِ، وَهُوَ أَوَّلُ بَرْنَامَجٍ تِلْفِزْيُونِيٍّ يُنْتِجُهُ الْقِسْمُ الْعَرَبِيُّ. وَغَطَّى مِنَ الْبَيْتِ الْأَبْيَضِ زِيَارَاتِ عَدَدٍ مِنْ رُؤَسَاءِ الدُّوَلِ. وَمِنَ الْمَشَاهِدِ الَّتِي بَقِيَتْ فِي ذَاكِرَتِهِ خُرُوجُ الرَّئِيسِ الْفِلَسْطِينِيِّ يَاسِرِ عَرَفَاتَ مُتَجَهِّمًا مِنْ آخِرِ لِقَاءَاتِهِ مَعَ الرَّئِيسِ بِلْ كْلِينْتُونَ مِنْ غَيْرِ أَنْ يُدْلِيَ بِتَصْرِيحٍ، وَهُوَ مَا كَشَفَ لِلصَّحَفِيِّينَ أَنَّ اللِّقَاءَ لَمْ يَصِلْ إِلَى اتِّفَاقٍ.

مَدَارِسُ إِعْلَامِيَّةٌ وَدَرْسٌ وَاحِدٌ

يُلَخِّصُ مُحَمَّدٌ عَبْدُ الْكَرِيمِ أَثَرَ الْعَوَاصِمِ الثَّلَاثِ فِي تَكْوِينِهِ بِوُضُوحٍ. فَالْقَاهِرَةُ كَانَتِ الْمَدْرَسَةَ الْأُولَى الَّتِي تَعَلَّمَ فِيهَا أُصُولَ الْإِذَاعَةِ وَكَيْفَ يَقُولُ هُنَا الْقَاهِرَةُ. وَفِي الْيَابَانِ تَعَلَّمَ دِقَّةَ الْإِدَارَةِ وَالنِّظَامِ وَالْعَمَلِ. أَمَّا وَاشِنْطُنُ فَأَضَافَتْ إِلَيْهِ حُرِّيَّةَ الْحَرَكَةِ الْإِعْلَامِيَّةِ وَالِاحْتِكَاكَ بِثَقَافَاتٍ مُتَعَدِّدَةٍ.

وَرَغْمَ الِاخْتِلَافِ بَيْنَ الْمَدَارِسِ الْإِعْلَامِيَّةِ، يَبْقَى الْمِعْيَارُ الْمِهْنِيُّ عِنْدَهُ ثَابِتًا. فَالْخَبَرُ يَجِبُ أَنْ يُرَاجَعَ مِنْ مَصْدَرَيْنِ مَوْثُوقَيْنِ عَلَى الْأَقَلِّ، وَعَلَى الْمُرَاسِلِ أَنْ يَتَخَلَّى عَنْ أَهْوَائِهِ وَانْتِمَاءَاتِهِ عِنْدَ نَقْلِ الْوَقَائِعِ. وَقَدْ وَجَدَ هَذِهِ الْقِيَمَ مُثَبَّتَةً فِي مِيثَاقِ صَوْتِ أَمْرِيكَا الَّذِي يُلْزِمُ الْمُؤَسَّسَةَ بِالدِّقَّةِ وَالْمَوْضُوعِيَّةِ وَالشُّمُولِ، وَبِتَقْدِيمِ الْمُجْتَمَعِ الْأَمْرِيكِيِّ وَسِيَاسَاتِ الْوِلَايَاتِ الْمُتَّحِدَةِ بِصُورَةٍ مُتَوَازِنَةٍ.

الصَّوْتُ وَالتَّرْجَمَةُ وَالْفِيلْمُ الْوَثَائِقِيُّ

اِنْتَقَلَ بَعْدَ ذَلِكَ إِلَى الْإِنْتَاجِ وَالْإِخْرَاجِ وَتَرْجَمَةِ الْبَرَامِجِ، ثُمَّ تَوَلَّى رِئَاسَةَ قِسْمِ تَرْجَمَةِ الْبَرَامِجِ، وَعَمِلَ فِي إِنْتَاجِ الْأَفْلَامِ الْوَثَائِقِيَّةِ وَإِخْرَاجِ الدَّبْلَجَةِ وَالتَّعْلِيقِ الصَّوْتِيِّ. وَسَاعَدَتْهُ خِبْرَتُهُ أَمَامَ الْمِيكْرُوفُونِ عَلَى تَوْجِيهِ الْمُؤَدِّينَ وَمُهَنْدِسِي الصَّوْتِ وَتَحْدِيدِ الْوَقَفَاتِ وَالْمَوَاضِعِ الَّتِي تَحْتَاجُ إِلَى مُونْتَاجٍ.

وَيُشَبِّهُ التَّرْجَمَةَ بِالرِّيَاضِيَّاتِ؛ لِأَنَّ الْمُتَرْجِمَ يَبْحَثُ عَنِ الصِّيغَةِ الَّتِي تُوَصِّلُ الْمَعْنَى نَفْسَهُ فِي اللُّغَةِ الْأُخْرَى. وَهُوَ لَا يَرَى التَّرْجَمَةَ نَقْلًا حَرْفِيًّا، بَلْ نَقْلًا لِجَوْهَرِ الْمَعْنَى وَرُوحِهِ، مَعَ التِزَامٍ أَشَدَّ بِالدِّقَّةِ فِي الْأَخْبَارِ. وَيُشَدِّدُ عَلَى الْمُرَاجَعَةِ وَإِعَادَةِ الْقِرَاءَةِ قَبْلَ اعْتِمَادِ النَّصِّ.

كِتَابُ عَلَى الْهَوَاءِ

تَقَاعَدَ فِي أَوَاخِرِ عَامِ 2023، ثُمَّ أَصْدَرَ فِي يُولْيُو 2025 كِتَابَهُ عَلَى الْهَوَاءِ الْقَاهِرَةُ طُوكْيُو وَوَاشِنْطُنُ. لَمْ يُكْتَبِ الْكِتَابُ دُفْعَةً وَاحِدَةً؛ فَقَدْ دَوَّنَ مُلَاحَظَاتٍ وَجَمَعَ مَوَادَّ عَلَى مَدَى سَنَوَاتٍ، ثُمَّ كَرَّسَ الْعَامَ الَّذِي تَلَا التَّقَاعُدَ لِلْكِتَابَةِ وَالتَّنْظِيمِ.

يَصِفُهُ بِأَنَّهُ مَزِيجٌ مِنَ التَّجْرِبَةِ الشَّخْصِيَّةِ وَتَارِيخِ الرَّادْيُو وَسِيَرِ الْمُؤَسَّسَاتِ وَالْأَشْخَاصِ الَّذِينَ عَمِلَ مَعَهُمْ. وَيَحْمِلُ الْكِتَابُ مَعْنَى الْعِرْفَانِ لِلرُّوَّادِ الَّذِينَ عَلَّمُوهُ وَدَرَّبُوهُ، كَمَا يَقْدِّمُ خِبْرَتَهُ لِلشَّبَابِ الرَّاغِبِينَ فِي دُخُولِ الْعَمَلِ الْإِعْلَامِيِّ.

الْإِعْلَامُ الرَّقْمِيُّ وَالذَّكَاءُ الِاصْطِنَاعِيُّ

لَا يَرْفُضُ مُحَمَّدٌ عَبْدُ الْكَرِيمِ الِانْتِقَالَ مِنَ الْإِذَاعَةِ التَّقْلِيدِيَّةِ إِلَى الْمَنَصَّاتِ الرَّقْمِيَّةِ وَالْبُودْكَاسْتِ. وَهُوَ يُقِرُّ بِأَنَّ الْجُمْهُورَ، وَخَاصَّةً الشَّبَابَ، أَصْبَحَ يَخْتَارُ الْمَادَّةَ الَّتِي يُرِيدُهَا وَيُشَاهِدُهَا عَلَى الْهَاتِفِ بَدَلًا مِنَ انْتِظَارِ جَدْوَلِ التِّلْفِزْيُونِ. لَكِنَّهُ يَتَحَفَّظُ عَلَى ضَعْفِ الْقَوَاعِدِ الْمِهْنِيَّةِ، وَالْأَخْطَاءِ اللُّغَوِيَّةِ، وَتَقْدِيمِ مَوْضُوعَاتٍ ثَانَوِيَّةٍ عَلَى حِسَابِ مَا هُوَ أَهَمُّ.

وَيَرَى أَنَّ الذَّكَاءَ الِاصْطِنَاعِيَّ يَسْتَطِيعُ أَنْ يُسَاعِدَ الْإِعْلَامِيَّ فِي الْوُصُولِ السَّرِيعِ إِلَى الْمَعْلُومَةِ، وَلَكِنْ لَا يَنْبَغِي الِاعْتِمَادُ عَلَيْهِ اعْتِمَادًا كُلِّيًّا فِي الْكِتَابَةِ وَالتَّفْكِيرِ. فَالتَّعْلِيمُ الْجَيِّدُ، فِي رَأْيِهِ، يَجِبُ أَنْ يُبْقِيَ مَلَكَةَ التَّحْلِيلِ حَيَّةً، وَأَلَّا يَكْتَفِيَ بِتَقْدِيمِ النَّتَائِجِ الْجَاهِزَةِ.

نَصِيحَةٌ لِلْجِيلِ الْجَدِيدِ

يَنْصَحُ الشَّبَابَ بِالْقِرَاءَةِ الدَّائِمَةِ، وَمُتَابَعَةِ الْأَخْبَارِ وَالْأَحْدَاثِ الدُّوَلِيَّةِ، وَالِاهْتِمَامِ بِاللُّغَةِ وَالثَّقَافَةِ الْعَامَّةِ. أَمَّا الْعَمَلُ الْإِذَاعِيُّ وَالتِّلْفِزْيُونِيُّ فَيَحْتَاجُ، فَوْقَ ذَلِكَ، إِلَى تَدْرِيبٍ مُكَثَّفٍ عَلَى الْأَدَاءِ وَمَخَارِجِ الْأَلْفَاظِ وَالنُّطْقِ. فَالْمُذِيعُ لَا يَبْلُغُ نُضْجَهُ فِي الْيَوْمِ الْأَوَّلِ؛ إِنَّمَا تَصْقُلُهُ شُهُورُ التَّدْرِيبِ وَسَنَوَاتُ الْمُمَارَسَةِ.

وَعِنْدَمَا سَأَلَهُ الدُّكْتُورُ عَلِيٌّ الزُّهَيْرِيُّ عَنِ الْعَوَاصِمِ الثَّلَاثِ فِي كَلِمَاتٍ قَلِيلَةٍ، قَالَ إِنَّ الْقَاهِرَةَ هِيَ الْأُمُّ، وَإِنَّ طُوكْيُو تَعْنِي الْحَضَارَةَ وَالتَّقَدُّمَ، وَإِنَّ وَاشِنْطُنَ تَعْنِي الْحُرِّيَّةَ وَالْجَمَالَ. وَحِينَ سُئِلَ عَنْ أَكْبَرِ جَائِزَةٍ لِلْمُذِيعِ، أَجَابَ

«رِسَالَةُ الْمُسْتَمِعِ هِيَ الْجَائِزَةُ الْكُبْرَى؛ لِأَنَّهَا تَعْنِي أَنَّ الرِّسَالَةَ قَدْ وَصَلَتْ»

مُشَاهَدَةُ الْحَلْقَةِ

تَأْخُذُ الْحَلْقَةُ الْمُشَاهِدَ فِي رِحْلَةٍ تَقْرِيبًا مِنْ تِسْعٍ وَثَمَانِينَ دَقِيقَةً عَبْرَ ذِكْرَيَاتِ الْإِذَاعَةِ وَالتِّلْفِزْيُونِ وَكَوَالِيسِ الْعَمَلِ الدُّوَلِيِّ. شَاهِدِ الْحَلْقَةَ الْكَامِلَةَ عَلَى يُوتُيُوب https://youtu.be/Y10obahSjAE

English Edition

From Cairo to Tokyo and Washington

Forty Five Years Behind the Microphone with Mohamed Abdelkarim

Episode Overview

In this episode, Dr. Ali Zohery speaks with veteran Egyptian broadcaster Mohamed Abdelkarim about a career of more than forty five years in radio, television, translation, news, and documentary production. The conversation moves from his childhood in Shebin El Kom to Cairo, Tokyo, and Washington, offering a firsthand account of how international broadcasting changed across almost half a century.

Abdelkarim’s story shows that broadcasting depends on far more than a good voice. His career was built on reading, language, disciplined training, preparation, accuracy, and respect for the audience. Those principles connect every stage of the interview, from the Egyptian Radio examinations to Radio Japan and the Voice of America, and from traditional broadcasting to his careful view of artificial intelligence.

Shebin El Kom and the Road to Broadcasting

Mohamed Abdelkarim grew up in Shebin El Kom in Egypt’s Menoufia Governorate. He remembers a quieter city divided by a branch of the Nile, with trees, open green spaces, and a public garden. During childhood he developed interests in reading, music, and public speaking. He read major Egyptian writers including Naguib Mahfouz, Yusuf al Sibai, Taha Hussein, Abbas Mahmoud al Aqqad, and Ihsan Abdel Quddous. His father’s enthusiasm for radio also brought the medium into his daily life.

He studied Russian at the Faculty of Al Alsun at Ain Shams University and also pursued Arabic, English, and French. In the interview, he describes language as a key that opens other cultures. He argues that a broadcaster must master Arabic and at least one foreign language because clear language is necessary for delivering an accurate message.

A Difficult Examination and an Unforgettable Day

His professional career began in January 1977 after an Egyptian Radio competition that unfolded over roughly a year. He recalls that about four thousand people applied and approximately forty ultimately qualified as announcers, editors, or translators. When his result letter was delayed, he visited the Maspero broadcasting building and learned that he had passed. He was told to begin work and training that same day, which he remembers as one of the happiest days of his life.

New announcers did not go directly on air. Abdelkarim completed three or four months of general instruction, observed an experienced broadcaster in the studio, then began with a few lines before advancing to complete bulletins and full shifts. The process shaped a principle that stayed with him throughout his career.

The microphone carries awe and sanctity because you are speaking to the public and delivering a message.

For Abdelkarim, that reverence concerns the public responsibility attached to the microphone. A broadcaster must prepare thoroughly, speak truthfully, remain focused, and understand that every word reaches real people.

Youth Radio and the Making of a Broadcaster

In late 1977, he joined Youth Radio under pioneering broadcaster Ihab El Azhary. The station brought together young colleagues and encouraged them to propose programs and experiment within professional broadcasting rules. Abdelkarim became a senior announcer in 1980 and later led broadcast execution duties, overseeing live output, announcer schedules, and the preparation of new staff.

His account of the Radio and Television Training Institute illustrates the breadth of preparation expected at the time. His instructors included Farouk Shousha, Ihab El Azhary, Ali Eissa, and Amal Fahmy. Actor Abdel Wareth Assar taught delivery, while composer Abdel Hamid Tawfik Zaki taught musical appreciation. Abdelkarim identifies preparation, truthfulness, objectivity, and balance as the lasting lessons of this training.

Cairo Tokyo and Washington

An assignment to cover Egyptian German Friendship Week in 1981 gave him an early international reporting experience. He sent audio reports from Germany, visited studios, and returned with recordings for his program The World at Your Fingertips. The assignment also led to further work with Egyptian television.

In 1984, he moved to Tokyo as a senior announcer in the Arabic Service of Radio Japan. He edited and presented the daily news, produced programs, conducted interviews, and served as a correspondent for Egyptian Radio. He viewed Radio Japan as a bridge connecting Japan with Arab audiences through coverage of economic development, science, culture, and relations with the Middle East. His reporting included an exhibition of Egyptian antiquities and interviews with Egyptian and Arab visitors to Japan.

After passing the Voice of America competition, he arrived in Washington in October 1989 and began a chapter that lasted about thirty four years. He worked as an international broadcaster, editor, translator, producer, and director. Among his programs was New Horizons in Science, which covered medicine, technology, space, and scientific research. He also created Towards a Better Life.

In 1996, following an internal competition, he was selected to present Weekly Forum, the first television program produced by the Arabic Service. He later covered visits by heads of state at the White House and reported from several American states. One scene that stayed with him was Yasser Arafat leaving one of his final meetings with President Bill Clinton visibly somber and without speaking to waiting journalists, signaling that the meeting had not produced an agreement.

Three Media Traditions and One Professional Standard

Abdelkarim explains the contribution of the three capitals with striking clarity. Cairo was his first school, where he learned the principles of radio and how to deliver the words This is Cairo. Japan taught him precise administration, order, and disciplined work. Washington added greater editorial freedom and daily contact with people from many cultures.

Despite differences among media institutions, his professional standard remained consistent. A reporter should verify a story through at least two reliable sources and set aside personal preferences when presenting the facts. At Voice of America, he found those principles formalized in a charter requiring accurate, objective, comprehensive, and balanced reporting.

Voice Translation and Documentary Production

Abdelkarim later moved into production, direction, program translation, dubbing, voiceover, and documentary work. He eventually headed the program translation section. His experience as an announcer helped him guide performers and audio engineers, identify the correct pauses, and recognize passages that required editing.

He compares translation to mathematics because the translator must find an expression in the new language that produces the same meaning. Translation is not a mechanical exchange of words. It carries the spirit and substance of the source while maintaining particular accuracy in news. He stresses the need to reread and revise a translation before it is approved.

The Book On Air

After retiring in late 2023, Abdelkarim published On Air Cairo Tokyo Washington in July 2025. The book grew from notes and materials collected over many years, followed by concentrated writing after retirement. He describes it as a combination of broadcasting history, professional experience, and portraits of the people and institutions with whom he worked.

The book is also an expression of gratitude to the broadcasters who trained and supported him. Its purpose is practical as well as historical: to pass useful experience to younger women and men who hope to work in media.

Digital Media and Artificial Intelligence

Abdelkarim accepts that audiences have moved from scheduled radio and television to digital platforms, podcasts, and on demand viewing. Younger people can now choose what they want to watch on a phone rather than wait for a television schedule. His concern is the weakening of professional standards, the spread of serious language errors, and the tendency of some outlets to give secondary subjects more attention than important news.

He believes artificial intelligence should assist journalists by helping them locate information more quickly. It should not replace writing, analysis, or independent thought. Education, in his view, must continue to develop the ability to reason instead of training students to accept ready made answers.

Advice for the Next Generation

His advice to aspiring broadcasters is direct: read continually, follow national and international events, strengthen language, and build broad cultural knowledge. Radio and television also require intensive training in performance, pronunciation, and articulation. A broadcaster is not fully formed on the first day. Skill develops through months of training and years of work.

In a rapid final exchange, Abdelkarim described Cairo as our mother, Tokyo as civilization and progress, and Washington as freedom and beauty. Asked about the broadcaster’s greatest reward, he returned to the relationship at the center of his career.

A message from a listener is the greatest prize because it means the message has arrived.

Watch the Episode

The full conversation runs for approximately eighty nine minutes and includes additional memories from radio studios, international newsrooms, television production, and documentary work. Watch the complete episode on YouTube: https://youtu.be/Y10obahSjAE

About the Guest

Mohamed Abdelkarim is an Egyptian broadcaster, editor, translator, producer, director, and documentary voice artist whose career spans Egyptian Radio, Radio Japan, and Voice of America. He retired in late 2023 and published On Air Cairo Tokyo Washington in July 2025.

About the Podcast

The Dr. Ali Zohery Podcast presents conversations with scholars, media professionals, authors, and people whose experience can inform an Arabic and international audience. The podcast is hosted from Washington DC by Dr. Ali Zohery, founder and owner of Zohery Tours International. Visit www.zohery.com for Washington sightseeing tours and cultural travel programs.

Episode Reference

Item: Information

Episode: From Cairo to Tokyo and Washington Forty Five Years Behind the Microphone with Mohamed Abdelkarim

Host: Dr. Ali Zohery

Guest: Mohamed Abdelkarim

Duration: Approximately 89 minutes

Languages: Arabic Bilingual article in Arabic and English

Main subjects: Egyptian Radio Radio Japan Voice of America television translation documentaries digital media artificial intelligence

Book: On Air Cairo Tokyo Washington published July 2025

YouTube episode: https://youtu.be/Y10obahSjAE

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