CAIRO: Reporters found it difficult to cover the press conference organized this past Wednesday at Cairo’s Egyptian Museum to announce the discovery of Queen Hatshepsut’s mummy.
Scores of TV cameramen, reporters and other media staff had to rough it, crowding each other out to listen to the officials’ words and gain access to the two mummies on display.
As soon as the flags were removed from the glass boxes where the mummies were placed, photographers crowded around, clicking away. In a minute, the scene was blocked by prostrate and kneeling reporters and photographers, much to the indignation of TV cameramen and others who failed to make their way through the crowd.
Many reporters failed to hear what the officials were announcing, interrupted by photographer who wanted to move closer to the podium.
The press conference was organized near the museum’s main door, an area too small to accommodate an event of this magnitude. Not enough chairs were available and people who sat in the back were unable to take pictures or ask questions.
To make matters worse, the venue was too close to where crowds of visitors entered the museum, which added to reporters’ consternation.
Media people understand the significance of having organized the event at the Egyptian Museum, but the place is so congested with antiquities that there was hardly any space for the media.
One of the Supreme Council of Antiquities’ public relations staff said that, for some reason, the event could not be organized at the museum’s conference hall. However, a few months ago when the council staged a press conference to announce the return of King Ramses II’s hair samples to Egypt, reporters faced similar difficulties even though the event was held in the conference room.
Since the council is aware that events like this one are the focus of media around the world, we appeal to officials to make it easier for reporters to do their job.
