VCS - Video Cairo Sat: The Middle East Media Center

Mohammed Gohar,
VCS Chairman.

Summary of Professional Experience

Throughout his nearly four decades of work in the broadcast industry, Mohamed Gohar has held fast to a core set of ideals, embracing independence, editorial freedom and impartiality, principles which continue to set him apart in the region.

Gohar obtained a BA in Applied Arts and a degree in Cinematography and was an amateur photographer before beginning his professional career in 1971 as a cameraman and producer for Egyptian television and film. In 1974, he began providing local production services for several international Hollywood films.

From 1973 to 1981, Gohar worked closely with Egyptian President Anwar Sadat as his main producer covering most of his local and international TV appearances. In 1974 he was the local producer on Sadat: Action Biography, Sadat's first interview with a media broadcaster from the West, co-produced for ABC by the late Peter Jennings.

Gohar joined NBC/New York staff as a cameraman and producer in 1976, and worked for several other news agencies as early as 1971, including Reuters and WTN. In 1973, Gohar began covering wars and conflict zones in the Middle East, Africa and Southern Europe. He has since devised a methodology capitalizing on the power of the media as catalyst for change to fight terrorism.

Gohar has produced programs featuring on shows hosted by the first generation of highly rated American anchors and producers such as Barbara Walters, John Chancellor (NBC), and Walter Cronkite (CBS), to name a few. He has established partnerships with a diverse and comprehensive line-up of worldwide broadcasters and agencies, including NHK (Japan) and throughout much of Europe, including the BBC, for which he produced the documentary The Gun and the Veil (1993).

In 1973, he single-handedly established Video Cairo as an independent media production company in the Arab world. He played a key role in establishing several satellite and independent television stations in the Middle East including Dream TV, Mehwar in Egypt and Al Nahrain TV Channel in Iraq. In 1983 he established the first Arabic TV news services in Jerusalem.

Current Job Position

As CEO of Video Cairo Sat, Mohammed Gohar employs over 100 employees trained and skilled in operating modern broadcast facilities. With extensive experience in producing content to fill an entire programming grid for Arab satellite channels, Gohar has proven to be a forerunner in encompassing diverse media genres: from news and current affairs, to documentaries and drama, working with an impressive array of global broadcasters, including Al Jazeera, supporting their launch and providing broadcast services through VCS from 1996 and to 2001.

In 2008, Reuters selected VCS to run its global news support services from Cairo, Video Cairo Sat Support Services (VCSS). Gohar oversees and upholds the vision of VCSS to be a model for healthy news rooms in the region promoting news standards and providing impartial, accurate and instantaneous coverage to a global audience.

Media for Social Change

Gohar has always believed in pursuing socially responsible media through partnerships between local media and international commercial and non-profit media initiatives. In 2007 he co-produced The Bridge- a reality based documentary- with Common Ground Productions (CGP) to bridge the growing divide between American and Arab Islamic societies, counter misconceptions and stereotypes and reveal the common humanity of both cultures. VCS also co-produced The Station, the first Egyptian TV drama series to deal with controversial socio-cultural issues ailing contemporary Egyptian society.

Gohar's belief in the power of media to impact change in society inspired him to launch the Civic Media Unit (CMU) in 2008 focusing solely on media action for social change. The Unit pursues partnerships with development, humanitarian, and civil society organizations. Gohar has trained generations of broadcast journalists throughout his career. His commitment to the development of broadcast journalism was entrusted to the CMU which develops and provides customized media and new media training to young journalists, civil society organizations, young community coordinators and students.

Honorary Positions

• Associate member of the Adham Center for Journalism and Mass Communication in the American University in Cairo (1981-2008), as well as their first lecturer on Broadcast Journalism.



• Long time affiliate of Search for Common Ground, Washington.



• Member of the Arts and Culture Advisory Committee at the US Islamic World Forum.



• Board Member of the Arab Media Forum (2001-2008).



• Current Board Member of C-100, the Council of 100 Leaders for West-Islamic World Dialogue.