Journalist Hamdy Rizk has abruptly left his position as editor-in-chief at the privately-owned newspaper Al-Masry Al-Youm after nearly five months since he assumed office.
Late on Sunday, the newspaper said that Abdel Latif El-Menawy, Al-Masry Al-Youm’s managing director will temporarily replace Rizk.
“The institution’s administration thanked Hamdy Rizk, the former editor-in-chief, wishing him the best in his next steps,” read the newspaper’s statement.
It added that the newspaper is keen on ethical, professional, and national standards, in addition to its steady aims to respect readers, as well as their right to knowledge.
In March, the newspaper faced a crisis over its coverage of the 2018 presidential election, which led to the resignation of its editor-in-chief at that time Mohamed Saleh.
Saleh and eight of the newspaper’s journalists were summoned to the State Security Prosecution and were questioned over charges of ‘disseminating false news.’
The front-page story triggered controversy and was published on 29 March with a headline which read “the State mobilised voters in last day of the election.” However, the headline was changed in the second issue.
The story reported that some public officials offered incentives to voters urging them to cast their votes in favour of President Abel Fattah Al-Sisi.
As a result, Egypt’s Supreme Media Regulatory Council demanded an apology over what it described as ‘publishing inaccurate news,’ and fined the newspaper an amount of EGP 150,000.
The newspaper had already published an apology, which was followed by the resignation of Saleh and the appointment of Rizk in April.
