SCZONE showcases investment opportunities to eight Japanese companies    Egypt urges Israel to accept Gaza deal amid intensifying fighting    Egypt, ADIB explore strategic partnership in digital healthcare, investment    Egypt's PM meets Tokyo governor, witnesses signing of education agreements    Egypt welcomes international efforts for peace in Ukraine    Al-Sisi, Macron reaffirm strategic partnership, coordinate on Gaza crisis    Egypt's Sisi, France's Macron discuss Gaza ceasefire efforts in phone call    Contact Reports Strong 1H-2025 on Financing, Insurance Gains    Egypt, India's BDR Group in talks to establish biologics, cancer drug facility    AUC graduates first cohort of film industry business certificate    Egypt to tighten waste rules, cut rice straw fees to curb pollution    Indian tourist arrivals to Egypt jump 18.8% in H1-2025: ministry data    Egyptian pound down vs. US dollar at Monday's close – CBE    Egypt prepares unified stance ahead of COP30 in Brazil    Egypt recovers collection of ancient artefacts from Netherlands    Egypt harvests 315,000 cubic metres of rainwater in Sinai as part of flash flood protection measures    Egypt, Namibia explore closer pharmaceutical cooperation    Fitch Ratings: ASEAN Islamic finance set to surpass $1t by 2026-end    Renowned Egyptian novelist Sonallah Ibrahim dies at 88    Egyptian, Ugandan Presidents open business forum to boost trade    Al-Sisi says any party thinking Egypt will neglect water rights is 'completely mistaken'    Egypt's Sisi warns against unilateral Nile measures, reaffirms Egypt's water security stance    Egypt's Sisi, Uganda's Museveni discuss boosting ties    Egypt, Huawei explore healthcare digital transformation cooperation    Egypt's Sisi, Sudan's Idris discuss strategic ties, stability    Egypt to inaugurate Grand Egyptian Museum on 1 November    Greco-Roman rock-cut tombs unearthed in Egypt's Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



Local print media going against the grain
Published in Daily News Egypt on 16 - 04 - 2009

CAIRO: As print media powerhouses crumple around the world due to exorbitant printing costs, declining advertising revenues and dwindling subscribers, the recent launch of a privately-owned Egyptian newspaper seems to fly in the face of glum projections on the local impact of the global financial crisis.
Last February the independent Al-Shorouk newspaper hit the newsstands, bringing the number of local dailies to 17, according to figures by the Higher Press Council.
Al-Shorouk was initiated over a year and a half ago - before the economic crisis hit - and is owned by Ibrahim Al-Moalem, a well-connected Egyptian publisher and head of the Egyptian and Arab Publishers' Union.
The recent flood of privately-owned publications dates back to 2004, when independent daily Al-Masry Al-Youm was launched under the Press Law 96 that allows the private sector to own newspapers as a joint venture and Law 159 of 1981 for joint stock companies.
However, the laws stipulate that the shares owned by each stake-holder cannot exceed 10 percent.
The private sector has ever since been investing heavily in the local media, seemingly unfazed by the global recession on the one hand, or by the rise of online media widely seen as a threat to the printed press.
With the launch of Al-Shorouk and the anticipated launch of Al-Masry Al-Youm's online English edition, the industry does not seem to be letting up.
Hassan Al-Mestekawi, one of Al-Shorouk's founders, said that the local media industry is different than its global counterpart.
"People in the US are connected through other means, such as television and online media, he told Daily News Egypt.
Al-Mestekawi, a board member of Al-Shorouk, initially invested LE 50,000 in the LE 30 million project, but withdrew his investment when the paper was at risk of being suspended.
According to the Journalists' Syndicate law, journalists are forbidden from partially owning newspapers.
Al-Mestekawi said he was initially interested in investing in Al-Shorouk because he believed the local print media scene needed new blood, different from government-owned newspapers, which he said are interested in covering the National Democratic Party, and from Al-Masry Al-Youm, which he claimed is interested in covering the strikes and demonstrations that are often held on the stairs of the Journalists' Syndicate. "[Al-Shorouk] is a space for unbiased truth, connecting Egyptians with the world, he said.
Media professionals say money is not the only motivation behind the recent influx of privately-owned newspapers.
"Making profit is not the main reason behind the flow of privately-owned print media in Egypt, said Sameh Abdallah, assistant editor-in-chief of the state-owned Al-Ahram newspaper and a training consultant at the Higher Press Council.
"Most of the newspaper owners are businessmen, they aim to protect their businesses, increase their influence, or other [hidden agendas], he explained.
Abdallah, however, maintained that it was too early to judge in the case of the recently launched Al-Shorouk.
Salah Diab, founder of Al-Masry Al-Youm, is also involved in the food, oil and agriculture industries. However, he refused to launch Al-Masry Al-Youm as the media branch of his conglomerate.
"Every businessman is aware that it's in his best interest to work in a stable political and social environment, and having an independent media is one way of achieving that, he told Daily News Egypt.
"When we decided to issue Al-Masry Al-Youm [which is partially owned by Naguib Sawiris, Ahmed Bahgat and other businessmen], making profit wasn't our main goal, he said.
But, he said, the newspaper has to bring in profit in order to survive in the market.
In 2006, Al-Masry Al-Youm signed a concession three-year agreement with Ad Line advertising agency for LE 22 million. According to Diab, the contract will be renewed by the end of 2009 and will be raised to LE 30-40 million, depending on the number of ads.
Al-Shorouk is also involved in a concession agreement with Ad Line, however no figures were available for the deal in question.
Anwar Al-Hawary, editor-in-chief of Al-Ahram Al-Ektesadi magazine - a weekly published by the state-owned Al-Ahram - said the local media market is not saturated.
"There is room for even 10 more dailies, said Al-Hawary, who is the former chief editor of Al-Wafd and Al-Masry Al-Youm.


Clic here to read the story from its source.