SIS chairman stresses press’s role in building states

CAIRO – 7 November 2017: “Social and political history cannot be separated from the media and professional status of any state,” said Diaa Rashwan, chairperson of the State Information Service (SIS) on Tuesday during the “Press Freedom...Why It Matters” session held on the sidelines of the World Youth Forum (WYF).

Rashwan, former head of Egypt's press syndicate, stressed that the international organizations concerned with the freedom of press and expression must obtain their information from credible sources only.

During the session, Rashwan stressed the press’s significance in building the state and spreading awareness in society.

Steven Pritchard, the readers’ editor of the UK’s Observer, Souad el-Tayeb, the director of Monte Carlo radio and Albert Shafiq, the director of Egyptian Extra News TV Channel, are among the participating speakers discussing how press freedom matters, and how it can be used to build states.

“After World War II, the French and the Germans hated each other, but the media succeeded in putting an end to that hatred and hostility,” said director of Extra News, Albert Shafiq, during the session.

Shafiq called on the Egyptian media to follow the footsteps of the French and German media to play an effective role in illuminating the audience.

Al-Ahram Weekly’s Editor-in-Chief Ezzat Ibrahim displayed several press laws around the world, stressing that the Italian press law prohibits audio recordings and refers journalists who rely on recordings to criminal trials.

The third day of the World Youth Forum kicked off Tuesday with world leaders and experts discussing more youth-related issues in different parallel sessions.

The seven-day World Youth Forum officially kicked off on Sunday under the theme "We Need to Talk" in Sharm el-Sheikh, South Sinai. Sunday witnessed a remarkable opening session with world leaders participating, and a number of international youth sharing their stories of success and grief.

President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi announced that the forum will be held in Egypt annually, highlighting the importance of such a gathering of hundreds of youth from all over the world to share ideas and solutions to problems and challenges.