A journalist's flagship national television driven from Tahrir Square, the editors called for the resignation, an editorial upset overnight ... Egyptian journalists working for state media try, too, to make their revolution.
"During the first 10 days of the protest movement, coverage of events by the Egyptian media has been shameful, denounces Rasha Abdulla, director of Journalism and Mass Communication from the American University in Cairo, cited by the U.S. daily" The Washington Post. "It was like they were living on another planet."
Since then, things began to change."The change is radical, confirms Wael Qandil, editor of the independent daily" Al-Shourouk. "The editors who spent their time to kowtow to power calling for transparent elections and the official media are now allowed to deal with Muslim Brotherhood members who were previously excluded from the media landscape. "
"The revolution in Al-Ahram!"
In "Rose el-Youssef," one of the four main government dailies, the employees demanded the resignation of their editor, Abdullah Kamal, and managing editor, Karam Gabr.For the second consecutive day, journalists and employees have demonstrated Wednesday in front of the newspaper's headquarters, preventing the executive to join its offices. In "Al-Jumhuriya," another state-run daily, the atmosphere is the same, the editor Ibrahim Ali being disowned by his staff.
Within the daily "Al-Ahram, the most widely distributed in Egypt, the voltage is also keen. According to the website of the newspaper, more than one hundred employees gathered in the lobby on Tuesday, demanding permanent contracts."The revolution throughout Egypt, the revolution of Al-Ahram '!" They chanted, repeating also slogans against corruption but also against the newspaper owners.
Their editor, Omar Saraya has yet made these days a 180 degrees. "Until now, he was a pillar of the regime of President Hosni Mubarak said Tamer Ezzedine, FRANCE 24's correspondent in Cairo. It now shows friendly demonstrators." In a forum, Omar Saraya praised the "nobility" of the revolution, calling on the regime to rapidly implement reforms.
But these last-minute reversals are not always pay.The television star presenter Egyptian Amr Adib, come talk to those camping for more than two weeks in downtown Cairo, was jostled and insulted before being driven from Tahrir Square.
"Take the train"
The journalists of Radio and Television of State, meanwhile, tried to protest on Wednesday to denounce the coverage of recent events on their media. "The gathering could not take place, they were only forty at the headquarters of Radio Television, said Tamer Ezzedine.But several groups have formed on Facebook to say they were not accepting the lies that were disseminated. "
Another journalist in the crosshairs of the profession, Makram Mohammad Ahmad, President of journalists' union. As the responsible official media, he has been appointed by the Head of State. At a demonstration outside the headquarters of the union, members of the organization have called to leave his post. They also allege that the union not to have expressed its solidarity with the Egyptian journalist Mohamed Mahmoud Ahmad, was killed while covering the protests.
According to his wife, Mohamad Ahmad Mahmoud filming clashes from the balcony of his office when security forces shot him, to the head, January 29.He died six days later from his injuries.
To Wael Qandil, if the change in tone is real, it is still too early to speak of genuine freedom of expression. "The state media following the evolution of official discourse, he says, they are just trying to take the train. But those who would use a real freedom of expression are still under attack of power. "
