Heads of media regulation bodies sworn in before Parliament Members

CAIRO – 12 April 2017: The three heads of the media regulation bodies took their oath before the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Ali Abdel Aal, during the Parliament’s morning session, Wednesday.

Prominent journalist Makram Mohammed Ahmed sworn in as the head of the Supreme Council for Media Regulations, while both journalists Karam Gabr and Hussein Zein took their oath as heads of the National Press Authority (NBA), and the National Media Authority (NMA).

Earlier this week, President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi issued a decree to establish three new bodies to regulate the work of the media in Egypt. The three bodies are the Supreme Council for Media Regulation (SCMR); National Press Authority (NPA); and the National Media Authority (NMA).

In December, the House of Representatives passed the media institution law with a two-thirds majority after six months of discussions. Press syndicates and tens of experts participated in formulating the new law.

Sisi picked veteran journalist and formerAl-Helal publishing house CEO, Makram Mohamed Ahmed for SCRM, Karam Gabr to head the NPA who worked for 30 years as a journalist and as an editor in chief for Rose Al-Youssef magazine, and Hussein Zein for the NMA.

According to the law, each body is composed of 13 members selected by the President, Parliament, Press Syndicate, the Higher Council for Universities, the State Council and a representative from the Ministry of Finance.

The NPA will replace the current Higher Press Council, taking charge of supervising state-owned press organizations. The NPA willalso be responsible for selecting board chairmen and the editors of state-owned publications.

While the NMA will replace the current Radio and Television Union (RTU), and will be mandated with overseeing state-owned audio-visual, radio and digital media institutions in a manner that guarantees their independence, professionalism and profitability.

The SCMR will take charge of supervising the general performance of the media in Egypt with a focus on creating ethic framework and by which all media organizations must abide, whether they may be public, private or owned by political parties.

The decree is believed to be followed by changes in the posts of the state-run newspapers’ editors in chief.