Exclusive Interview | “Asmaa Habashy”…a Voice Shaped within Maspero, and a Message that Believes Media Is a National Responsibility

Cairo – Mostafa El-Masry:

In an era where screens multiply at dizzying speed, messages overlap, and noise often rises at the expense of meaning, certain names remain living proof that true media is not measured by view counts, but by depth of impact; not created by coincidence, but built year after year through experience, discipline, and faith in purpose.

Asmaa Habashi is not merely a television presenter who appeared on screen, nor simply a media figure holding a prominent Arab leadership position. She is a model of a media professional shaped within the prestigious Maspero School, absorbing the rules of the profession before ever knowing the spotlight. Step by step, she progressed—from radio to television, from children’s programs to specialized platforms—until she became one of the faces whose professional and human capital is impossible to overlook.

Her journey was neither easy nor paved with roses, but it was always clearly defined: learning, training, respect for the profession, and loyalty to the great mentors who shaped generations of media professionals. While many chose shortcuts, Asmaa Habashi chose the harder path—the path of genuine, sustainable building.

From this professional and human depth, the Arab Women Media Union was born—not as a ceremonial entity or a protocol title, but as a conscious Arab project that believes in the power of women media professionals to shape public awareness, and in the fact that Arab women journalists possess an influence that deserves to be organized, activated, and directed in service of their nations.

This journey was never an individual or isolated one. Asmaa Habashi was shaped by hands that believed in her, and by pioneers of the profession who left their imprint on her awareness before her skills.

From the late great Soheir El-Etraby, who saw in her the making of a true television presenter and granted her confidence at a decisive moment, to “Mama” Samia Sharaby, who taught her patience, discipline, and respect for the camera before appearing on screen; from the renowned director Mohamed Donia, who opened a new door in her career, to Mr. Magdy Youssef, who made the bold decision to place her on the programming map while she was still in training.

Above all, the Maspero School—with all its icons and great mentors—remains the deepest and most enduring influence: a school that did not merely offer Asmaa Habashi an opportunity, but instilled in her the values of the profession, the sanctity of the word, and the meaning of being a responsible witness, not just a face on screen.

In this exclusive interview, Asmaa Habashi opens her heart and shares her experience—speaking about the early beginnings, pivotal moments, Maspero that lives within her as she lives within it, an Arab union that started with six countries and expanded to twenty-two, a critical vision of today’s media landscape, and a clear message that never compromises on the essence of the profession.

An interview that goes beyond narration to reveal a vision, and beyond experience to place the questions of the future on the table.

You began your media journey many years ago.

How would you introduce Asmaa Habashi to the audience, and how were your professional features shaped in the early stages?

I am Asmaa Habashi, a presenter at Egyptian Television since 2004, and President of the Arab Women Media Union.

My journey began in radio—specifically News Radio—which was my first true school in commitment, accuracy, and respect for the word. After only six months of radio work, an audition was opened for television presenters at Egyptian Television. I entered it merely as an experiment, especially since I had already started my career as a radio presenter.

At the time, there were seventy-five applicants, and only four were accepted—I was one of them. The moment the results were announced was shocking to me. I went up to the late Soheir El-Etraby, then Head of Television, and asked her: “Now that I’ve succeeded in radio and television, which path should I continue?”

She smiled and said a sentence I will never forget: “Are you asking me personally, or in my official capacity?” When I chose the personal answer, she said: “I see you more successful in television.” From there, the real journey began.Working in children’s programs was an early station in your career.

How did this experience shape you as a media professional?

Working in children’s programs was not a passing phase; it was true foundational training. I was appointed to the General Administration of Children’s Programs under the leadership of Ms. Samia Sharaby—“Mama Samia”—from whom I learned patience, discipline, and respect for the camera. I spent nearly a full year accompanying her during filming without appearing on screen, simply observing and learning. I was eager to go on air, but she always said, “It’s still too early.” Today, I realize that this patience is what truly made me.

When did the real turning point in your television career come?

The turning point came by coincidence, yet it was destiny. I met the renowned director Mohamed Donia inside the Maspero building; he was a close friend of my late father. He took me with him to Al-Tanweer Channel, where I met Mr. Magdy Youssef, the channel’s head. He asked about my work, and when he learned that I was still in training, he made a bold decision and told Mohamed Donia: “Put her on the programming map.”

From there, my true journey with specialized channels began—from Al-Tanweer to Nile Family & Children Channel, and then to Nile Life Channel, where I have been working for more than ten years to this day.

As President of the Arab Women Media Union, how do you view the role of Arab women media professionals in shaping societal awareness?

I firmly believe that women media professionals possess immense soft power. Our upbringing was closely tied to the female presenter—the feminine voice that enters homes calmly and shapes awareness without noise. From this belief, the idea of the Arab Women Media Union was born in 2015, aiming to organize this power and invest it in serving Arab nations, not merely in defending the rights of women media professionals.The Union began with six countries, under the auspices of the League of Arab States.

Today, we include media professionals from 22 Arab countries, with more than 850 members from journalism, radio, television, and professional digital media. We operate through the League of Arab States and cooperate with major institutions such as the Tahya Misr Fund and the United Nations Population Fund.

Has the Union succeeded in bridging a gap that Arab women media professionals were facing?

I do not claim that we have closed all gaps—that would be unrealistic. But I can confidently say that we have addressed the gaps faced by Union members. We provide legal support, professional training, and employment opportunities when requested, opening doors for women media professionals to be part of an organized and respected Arab media scene. We work through self-efforts, but with genuine belief in our role.

How do you balance your work as a presenter on Nile Life with your responsibilities as President of an Arab union?

Balance is not a luxury—it is a necessity. My programs on Nile Life have fixed schedules: Timeline, Focus, and Naharak Saeed. When I travel on Union missions, I coordinate with my colleagues to cover my absence. But the truth I do not hide is that Maspero is not merely a workplace for me; it is a sacred entity. Its walls, floors, and history are part of my human formation before my professional one.

How do you assess the image of women in Arab media today?

Unfortunately, Arab media has not done justice to women; rather, it has reproduced harmful stereotypes. Many women’s programs have turned into spaces for gossip, bullying, and trivialization, ignoring the real, working, struggling woman. We need a true media awareness revolution that restores women to their rightful place and natural role.

What criteria do you consider essential for building a successful female media professional?

Training… then training… then training. A true media professional cannot be built without academic and professional preparation. Personally, I have completed more than 34 training courses at the Radio and Television Institute, because media is a responsibility, and the screen does not forgive the unprepared.

How do you view the future of media in light of artificial intelligence?

I do not believe in eliminating the human element. Artificial intelligence is a supportive tool, but it cannot replace human interaction, emotions, and natural imperfections. Audiences connect with people, not with manufactured replicas.

Finally, what message does Asmaa Habashi insist on conveying?

My message is simple and clear: media is a national mission, not a path to fame. Anyone entering this field must know they carry a trust, and that a word can build awareness or destroy it. My advice to young women media professionals is: do not seek the easiest path—the right path is the longest, but it is the only one that endures.