Ashraf AboArafe
MP and media figure Osama Shar Shar, editor-in-chief of Al-Nahar newspaper, participated in a special symposium today as part of the activities of the Sixth Egyptian Press Conference, which was held at the Journalists Syndicate in the presence of a large number of media professionals, journalists and academics from all Arab countries, headed by the Syndicate of Journalists Khaled Al-Balshy. The discussion addressed the challenges facing the press industry, including the problems of newspaper distribution and the electronic content market, while highlighting the impact of technological development in this sector.
Shar Shar said in his speech that most of the visitors to the book fair are young people who love reading, and therefore those who say that there are no readers of the print press do not know the truth of the matter, but the electronic press was able to convey to the reader what is happening around him in sound and image, pointing out that the print press still maintains the most important feature, which is the credibility that its electronic counterpart lacks, calling for the speedy issuance of the Freedom of Information Circulation Law.
Shar Shar stressed that he had objected to the fragmentation of the unified media law in parliament, but it was divided into 3 entities, but the problem with these entities, although they are independent by virtue of the constitution, is that they have caused a decline in the media scene in Egypt, due to the lack of competencies.
Shar Shar stressed that some Egyptian citizens resort to foreign newspapers because they feel a lack of credibility in Egyptian newspapers, and this is a crisis that must be addressed, calling for the reform of Maspero, the real media entity in Egypt, and it needs a stand from the Egyptian state, as most of the major Arab channels were established and managed by Egyptian cadres from Maspero.
The symposium was moderated by media professional Samir Omar, with the participation of journalist Magdy El-Hafnawy, journalist Khaled Ezz El-Arab, and journalist Hossam El-Damrani, where they discussed the most prominent issues facing media professionals and journalists in the digital age, stressing the need to adapt to the ongoing transformations to develop journalistic work and ensure its continuity.
