In the face of major challenges confronting Egypt’s journalism sector, the Sixth General Conference of the Journalists Syndicate was held to establish a new foundation for reform and development. The conference not only defended journalists’ rights but also worked on practical solutions to develop professional tools amidst difficult economic conditions and authoritarian restrictions.
The most notable outcomes included affirming journalism’s role as a tool for oversight and accountability, while promoting values of transparency and independence.
In preparation for the conference, the Journalists Syndicate announced the results of a comprehensive survey conducted on a sample of 1,568 journalists, both union members and non-members. The study revealed fundamental issues concerning wage structures and labor relations within the journalism sector.
Among the key findings and challenges was the absence of wage regulations. The survey showed that 51.8% of media institutions lack clear wage policies. Additionally, nearly 50.5% of institutions do not apply the minimum wage, while a small minority of 27.9% fully comply with it. Alarmingly, the survey indicated that 13.1% of journalists receive no pay at all, while others earn wages not exceeding EGP 1,000. Furthermore, 41% of journalists were forced to seek additional non-journalistic work to meet their basic needs, and around 27% of respondents reported experiencing arbitrary dismissal.
According to a copy of the survey obtained by Zawia3, the findings reflect the economic and professional challenges facing journalists, highlighting a deep crisis in labor relations and the absence of clear policies that respect journalists’ rights. These figures represent a crucial starting point for a comprehensive reform plan to address the dysfunction in the journalism system. Consequently, the Journalists Syndicate President, Khaled El-Balshy, announced the launch of a campaign titled “For a Fair Wage for Journalists,” emphasizing the need to improve economic conditions through the enforcement of minimum wage standards.
El-Balshy called for an increase in the training and technology allowance as an initial step to improve journalists’ living conditions, along with the urgent need for legislative intervention to safeguard journalists’ labor rights, particularly concerning arbitrary dismissal. In his opening remarks at the conference, he stressed that these figures sound the alarm, highlighting that saving the journalism profession in Egypt requires swift action to ensure economic and professional justice for journalists.
Speaking to Zawia3, Khaled El-Balshy said the conference’s primary focus was supporting journalists and ensuring their rights, emphasizing that the syndicate seeks decisive steps to improve journalists’ conditions within media institutions. The calls included amending the labor law to protect journalists from arbitrary dismissal while preserving the rights of other workers. The syndicate also underscored the importance of drafting new legislation obligating both public and private institutions to implement the relevant recommendations.
El-Balshy further emphasized that promoting freedom of information remains among the syndicate’s top priorities, including the demand for a law prohibiting imprisonment in publication-related cases, a fundamental step toward enhancing press freedom. The syndicate’s focus also extended to improving wages through clear recommendations, calling for the establishment of a fair minimum wage for journalists and activating mechanisms to increase the syndicate’s resources within the next three months.
To achieve these goals, El-Balshy announced the formation of a committee comprising the syndicate president, council members, the general secretariat, and former syndicate presidents to follow up on the recommendations. The committee’s findings will be presented to the general assembly for adoption as a future reference. The syndicate emphasized the importance of leveraging “soft power,” including public figures, parliamentarians, and writers, to support journalists’ demands. This initiative aims to strengthen the syndicate’s influence and fulfill the aspirations of its members. These measures come within a comprehensive vision aimed at supporting journalists, promoting media freedom, and ensuring a sustainable work environment that preserves the dignity of media professionals.
Shimaa Hamdy, a journalist at Zawia3 and a researcher in media freedom (who participated in the conference’s preparatory and organizing committees), stated that since the enactment of Law 180 in 2018 and the formation of the Supreme Council for Media Regulation, a significant crisis has emerged for online platforms regarding obtaining the necessary licenses. The law, intended to regulate the field, imposed restrictive conditions that hinder emerging platforms. Despite these challenges, many websites attempted to comply, only to face additional obstacles.
Speaking to Zawia3, Hamdy highlighted one of the main issues: the Supreme Council for Media Regulation does not adhere to the stipulated 90-day response period for licensing requests as outlined in the executive regulations. Instead, responses are delayed for months or even years, and some requests are ultimately rejected without explanation. Meanwhile, other platforms receive licenses despite following the same process, raising fundamental questions about the criteria the council uses in its decisions.
She called for fairness, stating: “As journalists and researchers in media freedom, we demand the council apply the law fairly and transparently, despite its existing challenges. Fair implementation is the first step, and only then can we collectively work on amending the law to strike a balance between regulation and supporting media freedom.”
Hamdy added: “Denying licenses places websites at severe professional risks, most notably the threat of being blocked at any time. This discourages entrepreneurs and journalists from launching new media projects. This issue particularly impacts party-affiliated websites. While the Political Parties Law allows each party to publish two newspapers exempt from licensing, the new law equates party-affiliated websites with others, making it nearly impossible to launch them due to the same obstacles, whether from lack of response or outright rejection.”
She continued: “Freedom of publication and expression is the cornerstone of any stable society. When journalism is granted genuine space for publishing and expression, it plays a critical role in combating rumors and misinformation. We cannot demand that journalists provide accurate and reliable information while arbitrarily accusing them of spreading false news and simultaneously withholding information from them. There is an urgent need to reconsider current policies to ensure a transparent and supportive environment for press and publishing freedom.”
The Crisis of Digital Journalism
Hussein El-Zanaty, a member of the Journalists Syndicate Council, states that a fundamental issue lies in the registration of journalists working for digital platforms within the syndicate. The current law does not grant them this right, leaving them unable to join the syndicate legally. He adds: “This issue is often blamed on the syndicate, but in reality, the primary responsibility lies with the digital platforms themselves. They must take steps that benefit their employees.”
In his conversation with us, El-Zanaty emphasizes the importance of new legislation to regulate the admission of these journalists into the syndicate. He points out that platforms should practice journalism professionally and take concrete steps to support their workers. He says: “There are already prominent platforms with significant market influence, such as Masrawy and Sada El-Balad, that operate professionally and possess exceptional journalistic standards.”
He further suggests: “There is no issue with these platforms issuing their own print publications as a temporary solution until the legislation is amended. This step would benefit the journalists working for these platforms, especially since most of these institutions already have staff, headquarters, and equipment that enable them to produce a professional print product. The fixed project costs are available; the issue lies only in printing costs.”
El-Zanaty continues: “If these platforms issued a weekly newspaper, the syndicate could register up to 15 journalists annually. For a daily newspaper, the number could reach 30 per year. We call on the Supreme Council for Media Regulation and the syndicate to consider facilitations such as installment plans or reductions for publication fees to encourage platforms to take this step.”
He stresses that this proposal is not a conflict between print and digital journalism but an initiative that supports print journalism while also helping journalists working for digital platforms. He adds: “Issuing publications by digital platforms supports fellow journalists, provides them with new professional experience, and strengthens the position of print journalism amid the digital transition. We are not in a conflict; we are seeking solutions that serve everyone until the law is amended.”
El-Zanaty believes that blaming the syndicate alone without taking actual steps reflects a desire to maintain smooth relations between platform owners and their employees. He asserts: “If there is genuine intent to support young journalists, this solution is not costly and can be implemented easily by platform owners.”
Proposed Solution to the Registration Crisis
Abu Al-Saud Mohamed, former member of the Syndicate’s Registration Committee, reveals that the current registration regulations were established in 2015. However, there is a move towards creating a more advanced system to regulate the registration process. He adds: “I envision that training for journalists, or anyone interested in entering the journalism field, should start at the syndicate itself, not the newspaper. The person would then declare their intent to join the profession, and the syndicate would provide training for six months to a year. During this period, their name would be added to the list of those who completed the training courses.”
Speaking to Zawia3, he continues: “When a journalist establishes a new newspaper, they can approach the syndicate to access the names of trained individuals ready to work. These trainees would be employed for an initial period of three to four months. If the journalist proves competent during this time, they would return to the syndicate to complete the official registration process and obtain all necessary credentials to practice the profession. This approach shortens the traditional process, which often starts at the newspaper and could be misused for personal or non-professional purposes.”
The former member of the Journalists Syndicate’s Registration Committee emphasizes that solving the issue of registering digital journalists requires amending the syndicate’s law. He explains that Article 12 of the current law is a significant obstacle. He states: “Article 12 is a legal minefield. If we use it to register eligible digital journalists after amending the regulations and adding a provision for digital journalism, non-professionals will also demand registration. If they are rejected based on the regulations, they will exploit Article 12, which allows their registration regardless. Here, the law proves stronger than the regulation. Therefore, amending the law has become an urgent necessity.”
He underscores the importance of legislative amendments to ensure fairness and professional, equitable regulation of the registration process.
Ensuring Salaries and Increasing the Allowance
Mohamed Kharaga, a member of the Journalists Syndicate Council, begins his remarks by highlighting the core issues that are a priority for the syndicate. He states: “The syndicate focuses on several key files that concern journalists, most notably enhancing freedoms, improving wages—which remain at the bottom of the salary list compared to other professions—and increasing the syndicate’s resources to cover deficits in activities and healthcare services provided to members.”
He continues: “We were supposed to hold a general conference in 2014, as this conference should convene every two years to discuss developments in the profession. This delay has impacted our ability to confront major challenges, such as the competition traditional journalism faces from social media and digital platforms.”
On the low wages for journalists, Kharaga states: “We submitted a proposal to increase the training and technology allowance from EGP 3,900 to EGP 6,000, which is the minimum wage announced by the state as a decent income for citizens. This proposal is essential because 53% of the general assembly members work in private newspapers and institutions, and most of these journalists do not receive salaries from their employers. This situation makes raising the allowance a legitimate right that ensures a decent life for journalists, in accordance with constitutional provisions.”
Regarding the guarantee of journalists’ salaries, he asserts: “The syndicate must take a firm stance against media institutions that fail to pay workers’ wages. We can achieve this through financial inclusion mechanisms using electronic cards. The syndicate would require media institutions to deposit journalists’ salaries six months in advance. This method ensures that the institution has the financial capability to pay wages regularly, enhancing financial transparency and guaranteeing journalists’ rights. It is a decisive step toward building a sustainable future for journalism amidst current challenges.”
Women’s Rights
Viola Fahmy, a member of the Coordination Committee for Youth Parties and Politicians, stresses the need to update the Journalistic Code of Ethics to reflect modern developments. She explains that there is an urgent need to integrate gender considerations into the code to include regulations ensuring the professional coverage of women’s issues. She states: “There should be no publication of victims’ photos or any images that violate the privacy of women involved in journalistic cases.”
She adds: “At the headline level, we must avoid language that accuses women in the phrasing, so they are not turned from victims into perpetrators. This is an essential part of improving the public image of women in media coverage.”
Viola underscores the importance of diversity in journalistic sources, saying: “It is unacceptable for journalists to rely predominantly on male sources or for women’s participation to be superficial and limited. This reinforces a mental image that marginalizes women’s roles and undermines their competence, despite their proven excellence across sectors.”
On the necessity of updating the code of ethics, she notes that the current code was drafted in 1998 and is now a 26-year-old document that no longer keeps pace with the rapidly evolving journalism profession. She states: “Codes of ethics must be updated regularly to reflect developments such as artificial intelligence and modern work mechanisms.”
Regarding workplace environments in media institutions, Viola explains that “codes of conduct are essential tools for regulating work relationships. Issues such as harassment or conflicts between colleagues cannot be concealed, as transparency fosters a healthy work environment that encourages creativity and innovation, which are at the core of our profession.”
She emphasizes the importance of equality in the workplace: “There must be no discrimination between men and women, whether in wages or task distribution. Competence and merit should be the only criteria. Codes of conduct must be binding for everyone.”
Viola concludes: “In the Women’s Committee, we have worked for seven months to prepare a draft code of conduct that addresses all these aspects. We aim to present it to the general assembly soon, with the goal of adopting it to ensure that media institutions adhere to it, thereby enhancing the role of journalists and providing a fairer working environment.”
Releasing Imprisoned Journalists
Journalist and activist Iman Aouf states that the conference was successful by all standards, particularly the preparatory sessions, which featured extensive discussions among journalists about the profession’s challenges and practical solutions. She adds: “We did an excellent job preparing a draft law for journalistic work, focusing on including a special section for protecting the rights of female journalists. This draft has been submitted to the syndicate’s general assembly for discussion and approval.”
Regarding wages, Iman notes in her conversation with us that one of the key recommendations she and her colleagues presented was the necessity for the syndicate to reject any contract from media institutions that do not comply with the state-mandated minimum wage. She also emphasizes monitoring the recruitment of journalists to ensure transparency and fairness.
Discussing press freedom, Iman highlights that “there are currently 24 journalists detained, 16 of whom are in pretrial detention. We must begin a new era of serious negotiations with the authorities to improve journalists’ conditions. If there is genuine intent, the first step should be the release of imprisoned journalists under the syndicate’s guarantee, alongside establishing clear rules for protecting journalists and monitoring the implementation of the minimum wage through a dedicated committee.”
She continues: “Amending registration regulations was one of the most critical points raised, given its significant impact on the profession’s future. For years, the Journalists Syndicate has not established a code of conduct to bind journalists to clear standards. This is the first time we are moving from complaints to action through discussion sessions aimed at creating an enforceable code of conduct.”
Iman underscores the importance of continuous follow-up on implementing recommendations: “As long as journalists and their general assembly remain determined, and the syndicate plays its role seriously in discussing and monitoring the implementation of recommendations, these discussions will continue and turn into real, actionable steps.”
Conference Recommendations
At the conclusion of the Sixth General Conference of the Journalists Syndicate yesterday, the assembly issued key recommendations.
The first axis focused on the future of journalism and administrative reform of media institutions. Emphasis was placed on enhancing transparency and governance by activating the role of general assemblies to provide comprehensive reports on media institutions’ activities. A unified administrative governance system would ensure sound management and periodic performance evaluations, alongside transforming personnel departments into human resources departments focused on professional development for journalists.
In addition, recommendations included developing digital tools and marketing strategies by establishing units for digital marketing and social media to standardize electronic publishing standards, train personnel, and treat media institutions as independent brands. Efforts were also made to address the future of print journalism by integrating print and digital editions through innovative marketing strategies, supporting the paper and ink industry to reduce reliance on imports, and shifting towards analysis and specialization in issues rather than quick news. Moreover, creative storytelling and content development were prioritized. Reforming the journalist registration regulations was also highlighted, calling for a new set of guidelines aligned with the job market and legislative developments.
The second axis addressed digital journalism, emphasizing the preservation of journalistic archives by criminalizing the deletion of digital archives to protect journalistic history. It also focused on integrating digital media by establishing long-term strategies to meet audience interests and enhancing the use of social media platforms to support digital content.
The third axis centered on artificial intelligence through investment and training. This included incorporating AI technologies into journalistic editing and training journalists on generative AI techniques while establishing ethical guidelines for its use. Journalists would also be educated on the ethics of AI usage to distinguish between legitimate use and manipulation.
The fourth axis focused on developing content through clear editorial policies within institutions. This included drafting a transparent editorial policy for each organization, producing multimedia content tailored to target audiences, and promoting diversity by supporting investigative journalism and expanding the deployment of correspondents abroad to cover regional and international events.
In the fifth and sixth axes, the recommendations addressed party-affiliated and suspended newspapers. Proposals included supporting these newspapers through government institution advertisements and providing shared printing facilities. Additionally, professional training for journalists was emphasized, aiming to expand access through low-cost technical solutions and utilizing local expertise for effective, hands-on training. The syndicate also recommended creating a training roadmap to meet the demands of the journalism market.
The seventh and eighth axes focused on developing journalism education by standardizing academic terminology and concepts to bridge the gap between theoretical education and practical application. Recommendations included establishing studios and newsrooms in journalism faculties to train students. Revenue generation was also addressed by developing marketing tools, investing in digital transformation, establishing a local paper factory to reduce import costs, and waiving tax and insurance debt interest for institutions while providing customs and tax exemptions for printing materials.
The ninth and final recommendation focused on increasing journalists’ income and improving their conditions. This included ensuring fair wages for all journalists through institutional compliance with the minimum wage, establishing a clear salary structure that reflects years of experience, and prohibiting reliance on the technology allowance as journalists’ sole income. The syndicate also called for adopting and passing the Journalistic Labor Law, ensuring it aligns with the profession’s realities.
In light of these final recommendations and the previously mentioned survey results, the challenges faced by journalists become evident. It is now essential for all stakeholders to assume responsibility to bring about genuine change in the state of journalism and journalists in Egypt. As many journalists expressed on the sidelines of the conference, it is unacceptable for wages to remain undefined or for journalists to continue facing arbitrary dismissals and working in conditions unworthy of the journalism profession.
