Independent Journalism in Egypt: Professionalism and State Security

Independent Journalism in Egypt:
Professionalism and State Security

Many analysts have noticed serious developments regarding the analysis and reporting in some Egyptian “independent” newspapers lately. Such developments include the way these “independent” newspapers deal with the state’s security reports and investigations without questioning their accuracy or asking for comments from any person or bodies related to these reports, or raising different points of view.
Several political analysts have expressed their concerns regarding the apparent deficiency in such “independent” newspapers’. There are a number of incidents in 2009 where one of the “independent” newspapers did not impartially cover state security reports tackling the status of Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt and other oppositions.
Some political analysts -namely the journalist Fahmy Hewidy and the political activist Ayman Nour- have expressed their concerns regarding the defects in the allegedly non-biased reporting of the “independent” newspapers. Hewidy and Nour, along with others, have reflected their opinions in a number of newspaper articles where they argued that the so-called ‘independent’ newspapers in Egypt are being utilized by security state as a tool for justifying governmental oppression and violations.