Starting from the freedom of press to the quality of journalism, the second day of Egypt’s Media Forum on Monday discussed current issues in the press in the presence of prominent media speakers.
The head of the Syndicate of Journalists Diaa Rashwan said battles for the freedom of press will not be resolved in one day, it takes a long time.
The veteran journalist explained that the battle press and media freedom will not be solved with slogans, noting that media freedom currently depends on the will of the Egyptian society.
Rashwan also stated that states do not interfere with the media anywhere but in the Arab world.
He rejected views who describe media as a unified voice for the states saying, “the protests of 20 September were covered by more than 1,000 foreign journalists, even those without a permit.”
“The position of the press was much better when I was the head of syndicate in 2014, now I am trying to save newspapers from closure because of the conditions of the profession, and that the situation of the journalist is now back to previous bad conditions.”
He also stressed the vitality of journalists to act and work, and not just wait for their rights.
“Alternative media has replaced traditional media. In developed countries, social media is a means of entertainment, not a medium of news. Social media is a place where people complain, but it sometimes becomes a source of information,” he added.
Regarding blocked websites, he said that it is not part of their roles or responsibilities, and it is not within their specialties.
Rashwan also said that foreign media in Egypt is doing its job to the fullest, however some of them insult and defame Egyptians such as the BBC.
The EMF is an annual professional event for Egyptian journalists, allowing them to witness the developments of the media industry in the world, and learn about the latest methods of producing and displaying media content.
