Archive for chief editors

Journalists continue protest against chief editors

by admin
August 15th, 2012

 

Several journalists continued their sit-in for the seventh consecutive day on Wednesday, protesting the recent appointment of new chief editors of state-owned newspapers by the Shura Council.

Journalists from state-owned daily Al-Ahram on Wednesday staged a vigil against the appointment of Nasser Salama as their chief editor, whom they consider a symbol of the former regime. The journalists demanded that chief editors be elected, not selected by parliamentarians.

Demonstrators also threatened to protest before the Shura Council and to go on hunger strike.

State-owned newspapers should be independent from the Shura Council, which should be replaced by a National Press Council whose members are chosen by election, the journalists demanded.

Journalists from the Al-Mal newspaper also staged protests on Wednesday, demanding better salaries and bonuses.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm

Tags: , , , ,
Categories Egypt, Egypt Top Stories
Comments (0)

Court delays decision on Shura Council selection of state newspapers editors

by admin
August 5th, 2012

The Supreme Administrative Court postponed Saturday the review of appeals contesting the selection of state-run newspapers’ chief editors.

The appeals were filed against a ruling that upheld a Shura Council decision setting criteria for selecting chief editors and opened the door for nominations to begin in October.

The court was scheduled to review the appeals on Saturday, but a low turnout made the process impossible. Court President Magdy al-Agaty and one member of the court panel were the only parties present.

The Administrative Courts upheld the Shura Council’s decision on the basis that the Shura Council is, according to law, the authority charged with appointing chief editors of state-run newspapers and setting standards for selecting them, as long as they are in line with the constitution.  In its ruling, the Administrative Court also said press institutions’ general assemblies are not designed to select chief editors.

Journalists Syndicate member and writer Yehia Qallash, syndicate deputy Gamal Fahmy and Vice Chief Editor of Al-Gomhurriya Newspaper Mahmoud Nafady submitted challenges against the Shura Council ruling.  

In July, several prominent media figures and journalists protested against the Muslim Brotherhood-led Shura Council’s selection of editors to lead state-run publications, expressing fears that the Brotherhood would take control of state newspapers.

Some suggested postponing the process until after the drafting of the country’s new constitution, which would redefine the powers of the Shura Council. They also opposed the criteria for selecting editors.

Tags: , ,
Categories Egypt, Egypt Top Stories
Comments (0)

Shura Council, press council argue over editor selection process

by admin
July 19th, 2012

The Supreme Press Council has no right to demand the dissolution of the Shura Council’s committee for choosing the editors-in-chief of state-owned newspapers, said Fathy Shehab Eddin, the head of that committee.

“It is the Supreme Press Council that should be dissolved as it no longer truly represents the journalists after the revolution,” Shehab Eddin, who is also the head of the Shura Council’s culture committee, said on Thursday.

Earlier in July, several prominent media figures and journalists protested against the Muslim Brotherhood-led Shura Council’s power to choose the editors that would lead state-run publications. They expressed fears that the Brotherhood would take control of state newspapers altogether.

Some suggested that the selection process be postponed until after the new constitution is drafted and approved. The constitution would define the Shura Council’s responsibilities and powers.

 “The Supreme Press Council is against the development of the media and rejects the new criteria for choosing chief editors that were accepted by all journalists,” Shehab Eddin added.

Edited translation from MENA

Tags: , , , ,
Categories Egypt, Egypt Top Stories
Comments (0)

Appeal against Shura Council setting criteria for newspaper editors postponed

by admin
July 8th, 2012

The administrative court postponed on Sunday two appeals against the Shura Council’s decision to set the criteria for selecting state-owned newspapers’ chief editors to 10 July. This is so documents can be submitted and reviewed.

The appeals were submitted by Mahmoud Nafady, head of the Journalists Syndicate’s association of parliamentary editors, and Gamal Fahmy, a member of the syndicate’s board.

Numerous journalists, including Fahmy and Yehia Qallash, and former presidential candidate Khaled Ali attended the court session.

Defense lawyers called for annulling the Shura Council decision, saying it is illegal and will allow the Muslim Brotherhood and its Freedom and Justice Party to control state-run newspapers, since the party dominates a majority of the council’s seats.

The syndicate’s board earlier held an urgent meeting on the issue, after a request by five board members. Several syndicate members said the timing of opening nominations was political and aimed at diminishing journalistic freedom.

Journalists staged several protests before the syndicate to denounce the criteria set for selecting chief editors.

The Shura Council may soon be dissolved by a court ruling stating that political parties ran for seats allocated for independents as well as those set to be contested by parties in the parliamentary elections.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm

Tags: , , , ,
Categories Egypt, Egypt Top Stories
Comments (0)

Journalists Syndicate to hold emergency meeting Saturday

by admin
July 6th, 2012

The Journalists Syndicate will hold an emergency meeting on Saturday to discuss the selection of chief editors for state-run newspapers.

Five members of the syndicate council requested the meeting to discuss “aggression against freedom of the press” and the “Brotherhood-izing of state media.”

Yehya Qalash, syndicate member, told Al-Masry Al-Youm that the timing of the editors-in-chief nominations is political because the Muslim Brotherhood seeks to control the media to prevent any criticism of the group or the president.

Qalash pointed out that the issue of chief editor appointments was brought up first while presidential candidates were being nominated, then again before the runoff election. He said it is not a coincidence that nominations have been opened after lawsuits were brought to dissolve the Shura Council based on the ruling that disbanded the People’s Assembly.

The Brotherhood seeks to solidify control over state media before a ruling can be passed against the Shura Council, Qalash added.

A number of journalists have called for a march from the headquarters of state-run daily Al-Ahram to the Shura Council on Saturday, followed by an open-ended sit-in.

Gamal Fahmy, first undersecretary of the Journalists Syndicate, agreed that the timing of the nomination period is political and said he supported the idea of staging a sit-in before the Shura Council.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm

Tags: , , , , ,
Categories Egypt, Egypt Top Stories
Comments (0)

Journalists Syndicate to hold emergency meeting Saturday

by admin
July 6th, 2012

The Journalists Syndicate will hold an emergency meeting on Saturday to discuss the selection of chief editors for state-run newspapers.

Five members of the syndicate council requested the meeting to discuss “aggression against freedom of the press” and the “Brotherhood-izing of state media.”

Yehya Qalash, syndicate member, told Al-Masry Al-Youm that the timing of the editors-in-chief nominations is political because the Muslim Brotherhood seeks to control the media to prevent any criticism of the group or the president.

Qalash pointed out that the issue of chief editor appointments was brought up first while presidential candidates were being nominated, then again before the runoff election. He said it is not a coincidence that nominations have been opened after lawsuits were brought to dissolve the Shura Council based on the ruling that disbanded the People’s Assembly.

The Brotherhood seeks to solidify control over state media before a ruling can be passed against the Shura Council, Qalash added.

A number of journalists have called for a march from the headquarters of state-run daily Al-Ahram to the Shura Council on Saturday, followed by an open-ended sit-in.

Gamal Fahmy, first undersecretary of the Journalists Syndicate, agreed that the timing of the nomination period is political and said he supported the idea of staging a sit-in before the Shura Council.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm

Tags: , , , , ,
Categories Egypt, Egypt Top Stories
Comments (0)

Journalists Syndicate chief criticizes protesters

by admin
July 4th, 2012

Mamdouh al-Wali, head of the Journalists Syndicate, on Wednesday accused newspaper editors of inciting reporters to protest against change.

In statements published on the website of Al-Arabiya satellite channel, Wali said he supports the gradual achievement of journalists' demands. He added that a 1996 law stipulates that the Shura Council is responsible for choosing chief editors, and described the Shura Council’s decision last month to include journalists in the committee that chooses chief editors as a “breakthrough.” 

Journalists staged rallies before the syndicate protesting standards set by the Shura Council for selecting chief editors, with many fearing that the council is paving the way for Muslim Brotherhood domination of the state-owned newspapers.

“Protesters [who demonstrated in front of] the syndicate were leftists and those before Al-Ahram newspaper were those who resist change,” Wali said.

Edited translation from Al-Masry Al-Youm

Tags: , , , , ,
Categories Egypt, Egypt Top Stories
Comments (0)

Shura Council to keep state-run newspapers’ chief editors in their posts

by admin
March 18th, 2012

The Shura Council has approved the general committee’s decision to keep the editors-in-chief of state-owned newspapers in their positions until a decision is issued on how new ones will be appointed, Speaker Ahmed Fahmy said Sunday.  

Fahmy said it will take time to choose new editors-in-chief. There are 48 chief editors of state-owned papers, which are regulated by the Shura Council, and their terms ended on 17 March.

The speaker said he has assigned a committee to consider the criteria for selection as well as the economic, financial and social dimensions of these institutions in order to achieve press independence.

Several members objected to the decision and demanded that the council decide faster.

However, Fahmy said he met with Journalists Syndicate chief Mamdouh al-Wali and asked him to request that current chief editors and chairmen set the criteria for selection and coordinate with parliamentary committees to make transparent decisions.

Shura Council majority spokesperson Ali Fath al-Bab said the council approved the committee’s decision to extend the chief editors' terms for now after in-depth discussions.

The Shura Council aims to serve the country through these newspapers and to make them more professional, he said.

He said the council does not want to make a hasty decision, but one based on clear information.

The Egyptian newspaper industry is divided into three categories: state-owned newspapers, private newspapers and papers issued by political parties.

State-owned papers — especially Egypt’s flagship paper, Al-Ahram — used to be the main source of information for the public. But after private papers were allowed, state-owned newspapers lost significant influence.

Translated from MENA

Tags: , , ,
Categories Egypt, Egypt Top Stories
Comments (0)

Shura Council to keep editors-in-chief of state-run newspapers for time being

by admin
March 12th, 2012

The Shura Council’s general committee, scheduled to meet Monday, is expected to keep the current editors-in-chief of state-owned newspapers in their positions, sources from the Shura Council told Al-Masry Al-Youm. 

The same sources said, however, that this decision does not indicate an extension of their terms, which end 17 March.

Shura Council Speaker Ahmed Fahmy received Journalists Syndicate chief Mamdouh al-Wali on Sunday to discuss the issue of how to select the 48 new editors-in-chief. 

Fears surfaced recently among journalists that the Islamist-dominated Parliament will choose chief editors that are affiliated or close with Islamic forces. 

Last week, Fahmy said the new appointments of the editors-in-chief will be based on qualifications, not political affiliations.

The Shura Council is also expected to keep the current makeup of the National Council for Human Rights as it is for the time being.

The Shura Council is unlikely to replace the current chief editors or the head of the human rights council before the presidential election ends to allow time to consult with the new president before making the appointments.

The Egyptian newspaper industry is divided into three categories: state-owned newspapers, private newspapers and papers issued by political parties. 

State-owned papers are regulated and monitored by the Shura Council. Previously, those papers — especially Egypt’s flagship paper, Al-Ahram — were the main source of information for the public.

But after opening the door for private papers, state-owned newspapers lost significant influence and sway among Egyptians.

Tags: , , , , ,
Categories Egypt, Egypt Top Stories
Comments (0)