Members of the board of Egypt's Press Syndicate, along with the editors-in-chief of state-owned newspapers, have condemned attempts by some businessmen to create a separate chamber for the privately owned press, viewing such a step as threatening press independence. The editors-in-chief of seven privately owned newspapers came up with the idea of creating the chamber at a meeting held earlier this month. The meeting was called to discuss the future of the press in Egypt, and was attended by 17 editors. At the end of the meeting, the editors of Al-Masry Al-Youm, Al-Watan, Al-Osbou, Al-Youm, Al-Mal, Al-Bawaba and Al-Sabah issued a statement in which they declared they would take the necessary legal steps to create a private press industry chamber, which is due to be registered at the Federation of Egyptian Industries. The owners of Al-Shorouk and Al-Tahrir, both privately owned newspapers, have not yet declared whether or not they will join the chamber, saying their decision is pending clarification of technical details. The new chamber would investigate problems affecting the privately owned newspapers, including printing, distribution and advertising. It would also represent the privately owned newspapers to the authorities and in social dialogues. Members of the chamber are yet to be named, but meetings are planned to discuss the chamber's mission, as well as its legal status, with Prime Minister Ibrahim Mehleb and Minister of Industry and International Commerce Mounir Fakhri Abdel-Nour. Khaled Salah, editor of Al-Youm, said that the chamber's role would be different from that of the Press Syndicate. “The chamber will work to develop the privately owned newspapers and turn them into industrial institutions. According to the chamber's regulations, reporters will have the right to own part of their newspapers and the newspapers' shares will be quoted on the stock market,” Salah said. “The owners of the private newspapers are businessmen. No one can blame them if they want to expand their newspapers' capital and profits,” he said. Salah added that the idea for the initiative came after the militant attack in which more than 30 soldiers in North Sinai were killed. Salah disputed claims that the chamber would interfere with the newspapers' editorial policies, professional regulations or employee-related issues. “The new chamber is a positive step and no one should be against it,” he said. The editors-in-chief of state-owned newspapers issued a statement arguing against claims made by the seven private newspapers. The statement said that the press industry should include all sectors, whether state-owned or privately owned, in order to defend the welfare of journalists and press rights. “The owners of the private newspaper do not own the journalism industry, as more than 95 per cent of printing machines are owned by state-owned newspapers such as Al-Ahram, Al-Akhbar and Al-Gomhoreya, where most of the private newspapers are printed,” the statement read. The Press Syndicate board condemned the initiative, saying it would split journalistic unity. Karem Mahmoud, Press Syndicate secretary-general, said the privately owned papers were aiming to exclude state-owned newspapers and discriminate between journalists working for state-owned, privately owned and party political newspapers. “It is unclear to the syndicate how far businessmen will expand their influence over the newspaper industry after the creation of the chamber. It may serve the needs of a certain category of people who work against the country,” Mahmoud said. He added that the creation of the chamber was illegal and against the constitution. “According to the Egyptian constitution, the Press Syndicate and the Supreme Council for the Press are the only legal bodies that represent the press and journalists in the country,” Mahmoud said. “Therefore, the introduction of any other entity that would represent the profession is unconstitutional.” He said that the law prohibited any journalist being the owner or shareholder in any newspaper. Mahmoud expressed doubts that the government will approve the new chamber. “How can the authorities approve the creation of an entity that is against the legal and constitutional principles of journalism in Egypt?” Some journalists signed a statement, shared on social-networking sites, in which they declared their reluctance to be involved in an issue that, they said, did not concern them. According to the statement, the creation of an industry chamber for private newspapers would lead to an atmosphere of hostility and jealousy among journalists and to wider splits. “We have to face terrorism while we are united,” the statement said. “We cannot face it with a weak media and divided stances.” Journalist and publisher Hesham Qasem said that the chamber's founding statement should provide more details about its mandate, adding that if created it would come at a time of important changes for the press companies. “For decades, the state-owned newspapers and the party-owned ones have been influencing public opinion. Now we need more transparency and more independence from governmental or party pressures. It is time for the press and its personnel to experience true democracy and freedom of expression,” Qassem said. Diaa Rashwan, head of the Press Syndicate, said that those who signed the statement demanding the establishment of the private chamber had not complied with syndicate regulations. “The syndicate has been going through fierce battles for years to defend the profession, press freedom and freedom in general. We will not allow those who are behind this assault on the Egyptian press to achieve their destructive goals,” Rashwan said. However, he did not agree with suggestions that the Press Syndicate consider imposing penalties on anyone who joins the new chamber. “It is illegal. It is against the constitution and syndicate regulations,” he said.
