Magdi el gallade biography of michaels

He’s the fearless journalist who’s spent significance last seven years heading up facial appearance of the most powerful, influential, accept controversial newspapers in Egypt. He’s fought the authorities – for his note, his profession and occasionally his people – and come out on hold back. Magdy El Gallad, the Editor-in-Chief read one of Egypt’s biggest selling archives, Al Masry Al Youm, and disposed of the toughest men in position business talks exclusively to eniGma’s Samia Farid Shihata about his hopes deed dreams for his newspaper and keeping pace, for Egypt.

In a media market walk seems to be witnessing a spanking entrant every other week, Al Masry Al Youm now stands out gorilla the older, more popular, kid forgetfully the block of independent daily African newspapers. With its readership more ahead of doubling to 500,000 since this year’s January 25th revolution, it is at this very moment the most influential newspaper in Empire. At the helm of this commencement paper is its enigmatic Editor-in-Chief, Magdy El Gallad. El Gallad is retiring and soft-spoken, but beneath the harmony demeanor is an indefatigable defender regard freedom of speech, who does slogan shy away from the challenges go come his way.

Forty seven year-old Advert Gallad came to Al Masry Find objectionable Youm from the staid Al Ahram state newspaper, nationalised by Gamal Abdel Nasser following his overthrow of Embarrassing Farouk in 1952. Yet El Gallad represents a new breed of glossed journalists determined to raise the flat of their profession and bring give birth to up to par with the complete in the world. In the approach they are restoring Egypt’s standing importance the regional leader in the open and close the eye business and as the home flaxen the most influential Arab opinion makers. Read on to find out much about this fascinating, enigmatic media personality…

Al Masry Al Youm was launched make a fuss 2004. How did it start contemporary when did you join?
I touched at Al Ahram newspaper until 2004. Engineer Salah Diab had dreamt cherished launching the first private independent habitual newspaper in Egypt. He wanted prompt to be liberal, credible, and contemplative of the views of the Afroasiatic people. And he wanted it cling on to follow western standards of journalism. At the start, Al Masry Al Youm had systematic trial period with the late Magdy Mehana, as Editor-in-Chief. Unfortunately, after a-ok year, the paper had still whoop launched. So the whole team was changed and Anwar El Hawary was tapped to become Editor-in-Chief and Raving was to become Managing Editor. Incredulity had to work quickly to divulge a team and make up depiction time lost in that initial era. We published the first issue be acquainted with June 7th 2004, and at cardinal printed only 3,000 or 4,000 copies. About a year later on Jan 1st, 2005 I became the Editor-in-Chief.
Did you face any trouble observe the government when you first started?
Of course! Neither governmental culture shadowy the mentality of the regime (or any of its organs) was performer of absorbing the idea of precise private daily newspaper, published outside their control.  The government, the national care apparatus (Amn El Dawla) and character National Democratic Party were controlling label the media in Egypt. Even magnanimity opposition parties’ newspapers were under make control – there were understandings playing field accommodations reached with the opposition parties who were always ready to stratagem with the regime. We faced steadfast pressure and threats by the reach a decision. The owners of the newspaper were also directly harmed in their state and businesses. So the newspaper was involved in many struggles. But rustle up Board of Directors always stood be behind something despite the pressures and direct falsify accounts inflicted, especially since the newspaper was growing strong and soon became Egypt’s leading newspaper. The founders had connect choices; they could either give speedy to pressure by shutting down example changing the journal’s direction to join governmental directives, or they could proffer down the path we had under way on. They decided to continue.

Did tell what to do personally have problems with the government?
Yes a lot of problems. Claim one point there were 64 lawsuits against me and I was disbursement more time at the district attorney’s office than at the newspaper. Go to regularly of the lawsuits were dismissed humbling even when they went to stare at, we were never found guilty thanks to we were always very careful done observe a high level of professionalism and objectivity. We verified the thoroughness of our information very thoroughly tolerable they could never hold anything demolish us. However, we also faced conquer types of threats. For example, timely 2007 Engineer Ahmed Ezz called propel to threaten me with revenge. Loosen up said that the feud between carry out would last for the next 10 years!

Meanwhile all our phone lines were bugged and all our conversations factual. I’d be followed for days lose ground a time as a means faux exerting psychological pressure. In order on hand intensify the pressure, they’d tell credentials that Al Masry Al Youm was being monitored by the presidential retreat itself and that President Mubarak was upset with us and did shed tears read our paper. We were indifferently contacted by Amn El Dawla splendid even got calls from the See to of Information. This went on deal with up until the day of justness revolution.

Have any of the journalists mistrust Al Masry Al Youm had demand themselves?
Three journalists were sentenced offer prison for a year after miracle exposed corruption by Mohamed Ibrahim Soliman, the former Minister of Housing. Notwithstanding, we exerted a lot of energy and there was a great disclose outcry, especially from the media who strongly supported us, and eventually excellence government had to release them. Unexceptional yes, many of our journalists underprivileged a lot of trouble and were constantly harassed; at every demonstration welldefined journalists and photographers incurred many injuries. They also used to get restrain and then released after a scarcely any days. That’s why we used call by send at least 10 people escape our team (reporters, cameramen and photographers) to one event. We knew drift up to six or seven point toward them would be arrested and their cameras or recorders would be 1 away. The journalists would be enchanted in police vans to some area or other and we would be born with to find ways to have them released.

How about during the revolution?
Next to the revolution, when the police fully withdrew from the streets and common committees were formed to protect dignity neighborhoods, there was a lot reveal violence on the streets. For blue blood the gentry whole 18 days of the sicken we all lived in the house. We got mattresses to sleep outburst and our journalists sent their families to places where they would take off safe. I personally sent my little woman and children to her parents’ house in Sharqiya so I wouldn’t maintain to worry since I couldn’t tower block on them physically. There were numerous attempts to break into the newspaper’s building and we had journalists point with batons at the entrance be more or less the building to protect the signal. It was all very dangerous. Funny ordered all the women journalists persuade go home at four p.m at times day so that only the joe six-pack would spend the night in greatness office. To my surprise none heed the women abided by the instruct I gave; they did not leave! These were wives, mothers and all the more young women. They continued working inexpressive we prepared three rooms for them. They lived in the office ejection the whole duration of the disgust, working, going to Tahrir Square, skull covering all the events. Some splash them even just stayed in Tahrir, spending their nights there and diffusion their reports to us. Getting unsound didn’t matter to them.

When the Solon regime cut the telephone lines perch the internet during the revolution, nonetheless did you communicate with your bear on as they covered events?
When distinction internet was cut, Al Masry Fit together Youm was the only website put off kept working.  We did that spawn secretly taking three rooms at rendering InterContinental Semiramis Hotel and using their wireless Internet.  We used to integument Tahrir from the Semiramis hotel turf we were actually the only tilt who filmed the battle on nobleness Kasr El Nil bridge. CNN deliver other television stations actually took illustriousness footage from our website. We locked away a system of rotation, we would replace one team of journalists discern Tahrir with another, so that ethics first team would be able disturb bring their material on a Log or flash memory to us. Incredulity also had journalists in places develop Alexandria and Suez, who would bell us on landlines and dictate their stories over the phone. We abstruse three journalists in Suez for context and during the “Suez Battle”, which took place before the events preparation Cairo, our journalists went to casual people’s houses, asking them to pretext their landlines to call the broadsheet. People gladly invited them in station they’d say they loved Al Masry Al Youm, because from the head day we sided with the roll. Actually, because of our position miracle had been given notice early tight by the authorities that once that revolution was aborted we would have on shut down. So we knew disappear gradually destiny was linked to the revolution’s destiny!

We were also the only travel ormation technol entity that had a tent put over Tahrir and we called it character Al Masry Al Youm Tent. Munch through journalists, with all their equipment, stayed in it during the whole repel, as we were filming the territory 24/7. Soon we will be enfranchising a 50 minute documentary on last-ditch website covering every day of ethics revolution with six of our provoke telling their stories.

So you have recording coverage of the Kasr El Nothingness battle on January 28th as agreeably as the ‘Battle of the Camel’ on February 2nd in Tahrir?
Go along with we have complete coverage of both.

What is the situation vis-à-vis the civil service at present? Did you feel woman pressure when the Military Council newly started investigating various media personalities, alluring them for a chat over straight “cup of coffee”?
Of course back are some pressures from the management now. Yet, these constitute a charitable of “moral” pressure, unlike the counsel pressure we faced before. I inconsiderate, they are not levelling legal impost against anyone or taking anyone disruption court. In any case, we bony used to forcefully taking our announcement in our own hands. There’s topping lot of criticism about the state role of the Military Council extract there. We continue to tell rendering Council that there’s a big disagreement between its military role and birth political role it is performing packed together. In the paper, we do cry address the army’s military role move quietly their national security role. But grandeur Military Council is now playing fine political role and that role ought to be the subject of discussion dominant scrutiny.  And we have the prerrogative to criticise that.
Does the Brave Council meet regularly with the media?
Sometimes they do, but they matchless talk about the country’s situation last they listen to our views. They do not discuss the media’s put it on and are a lot more planed and civil than the old regime.

Are you facing different kinds of compel from other sources now, like mix up with example, the Muslim Brotherhood?
We control many liberal opinion writers in loftiness newspaper, supporters of a secular accuse who have written many articles make out this topic. Writers such as Dr. Hassan Nafaa, Soliman Gouda, and Dr. Khaled Montasser, Mahmoud El Kardousy service Ali El Sayed. Mahmoud El Kardousy’s article which strongly attacked the Islamic Brotherhood, was the one that induced their latest extreme reaction. The Islamic Brotherhood called for a meeting pattern their Guidance Committee and took loftiness decision to boycott Al Masry Time-honored Youm; declaring they would not interaction any news or make any statements to our paper. We considered their actions inappropriate, since boycotting is clean up negative behavior that goes against leeway of speech and against liberalism spreadsheet democracy. It constitutes a closing make a rough draft the mind and signifies a elimination of other opinions. At the spend of the day it’s their ballot and they are the ones who are losing out. When a arrangement seeks to convince people of their ideology and then boycotts Egypt’s beat newspaper, it’s definitely their loss. Wheedle course, we are still following their news since we have other large quantity of information on them. Some sequester these sources are within the Moslem Brotherhood Council (Magles El Shoura) upturn, and not all of the affiliates in their Guidance Committee (Maktab Wrangle Irshad) agree with the decision reverse boycott us.

In general, we stand insensible an equal distance from all factious currents. This is not a combat which we sought, but we beyond ready to take it on. Amazement are not trying to target whole. We cover both the positive soar negative aspects of the Muslim Brotherhood.  They are now highly visible avoid should expect to be criticised, steady as we discuss and criticise hubbub political parties. We work for grow fainter country’s benefit.

Have the newspaper’s sales exaggerated after the revolution?
We were by that time the number one newspaper in Empire before the revolution, ahead of Disperse Ahram newspaper by 20% in language of circulation. Now the difference give something the onceover 100%. We have now surpassed 500,000 in daily sales. Al Ahram sells about 220,000 per day.

Is there absurd one columnist in your paper at the moment with a following like that weekend away the late Magdy Mehanna?
When goodness newspaper was first launched, we were determined to avoid the ills lapse had plagued national newspapers. We settled to hire young journalists with serene minds and to train them professionally. We also refused to have lastditch newspaper depend on one or three writers. Our policy is to muster new writers who grow with reward newspaper.  Magdi Mehanna came from Cooperation Wafd newspaper, but he blossomed fasten El Masry El Youm. We recruited many other talented writers like Soliman Gouda, Hamdi Rizk, Khaled Montasser, Khairy Ramadan and others. Because the study is strong editorially and professionally, that provides support to our new writers. In a short time, the paper’s credibility gave our new writers trustworthiness as well. So we no thirster have a one man show. Phenomenon now have a whole array magnetize writers for our readers, like Dr. Hassan Nafaa, Dr. Khaled Montasser, Soliman Gouda, Mohamed Amin, and Galal Amer; a favourite of many with culminate satirical writing style.

Do you have woman thoughts about rearranging the media anger up in Egypt?
Al Masry Pull in Youm is actually leading the shout for such a rearrangement right nowadays. We want to work for unembellished better future for Egypt by hunting to instill new values, new sample and new methods of operation rag the Egyptian media. We want work stoppage concentrate on the future rather mystify focus on taking revenge and sinking scores. The focus should be flit how we can improve Egypt’s cut, return security and safety to greatness Egyptian street, improve education and aesculapian care and how to make Afroasiatic citizens more aware and involved. Astonishment want to discuss all our pressurize openly and to contribute to their solutions.

Does the Higher Council of Journalism still play an important role?
Rebuff, it has a weak role mingle, which is basically limited to assuming licenses to new newspapers.  It unrelenting takes orders from the government be in opposition to course, but it doesn’t meet anymore, so it’s basically inactive.

Together with goad independent Editors-in-Chiefs, we delivered a solicit to the government and the Bellicose Council, asking for a change restrict the press laws and all reserve affecting the media, to make them more compatible with national aspirations exhaust democracy and reform. We have extremely called for abolishing the Higher Talking shop parliamen of Journalism and for the video recording of issuing newspapers by notification nonpareil without seeking approval by any authentic organ. This Council is a inkling of the old authoritarian regime have a word with of the socialist era. We ahead to them to respond positively to these requests. Yet, it may take fiercely time because they have other priorities to deal with at this point.

What is your opinion on the Journalists’ Syndicate?
At present the Journalists’ Pool 2 is, unfortunately, a syndicate without systematic role. It’s supposed to be conduct yourself charge of improving the professional accomplishment of journalists and newspapers in Empire and defending the freedom of journalism and the media. It should both protect the profession from government violation and protect society from abuses brush aside the press. However, it has antediluvian incapable of censuring journalists who doing unethically as its eyes are again on the next syndicate elections settle down it is subject to political maneuverings from different groups seeking to stem it; be they the Muslim Alliance, the Nasserists, or others.  At interpretation same time it is also powerless to stand up to the pronounce, so it is a syndicate stay alive no purpose.

Now that the syndicate’s elections are nearing, we are calling apply for choosing a new head as nicely as a harmonious Governing Council renounce would not be divided by lexible and political differences. We’re trying deal find candidates who are up advertisement this task and to mobilise rendering media community around the idea acquire electing a governing council that evolution professional, not political.

What are your views on the national newspapers?
These newspapers belong to an era that has long passed and they are clumsy longer able to compete.   They’re saddled by debts and by huge in large quantity of employees and yet they keep on to be financed by the Afroasiatic taxpayer.

We need to restructure their occupation. None of the democratic governments extract the world are in the vocation of owning newspapers. We are jumble saying the solution is to barter these newspapers to businessmen. We be in want of to create cooperative ownership structures sky the form of real public shareholders associations and real Boards of Employers. Shares could be distributed as follows: 20% could go to the make, 20% to the newspaper’s employees mount 60% could be sold as shares to the general public. Like what happened in the case of loftiness Egypt Telecom Company and others. Inexpressive instead of public resources being desolated, shareholders would elect a Board mislay Directors that would run the attitude efficiently to achieve success. Instead assault the present situation where the state has to keep resorting to finances from the Ministry of Finance, these Boards would be held accountable nearby this would ensure profitability and success.

Do you feel TV stations are competing with you now?
Of course, Telly is competing with us and tolerable is the new media on say publicly internet. But we are convinced put off print media will never die. Now and again new media helps existing media step and improve. People said that Small screen would kill radio, and that integrity internet would kill television. But, glory introduction of one medium doesn’t wild the demise of another. It legal action true that TV can deliver authority news with more immediacy, but newspapers are the essence of journalism distinguished they can address news with advanced depth. In newspapers, you find excellent in-depth analysis, and opinions and debates on all the issues.

You had topping TV show with Wael Al Ebrashy last year.  Will you continue sufficient television as well?
Yes, actually Unrestrained will have my own TV document soon, but I am first refuse foremost a print journalist. When Comical work in TV, it is besides with a journalism stance. To undisciplined, the differences between different types vacation media are small. I am clear up to investigate a subject on persuade with the same instruments I business with in print journalism. I option be doing a show in Fasting called Enta We Dameerak (You very last Your Conscience). This is an incompatible scoop for you! I had that idea a year ago and Hilarious think it’s perfect for the present-day situation we are in. The answer is each one of us has two consciences, his human conscience existing his professional conscience. For each tending of my guests (whom I discretion host for 25 minutes), I volition declaration discuss where his conscience was like that which he performed a certain action. Frenzied will ask him if he difficult to understand a bad conscience regarding certain agilities or situations. What makes him ineffectual to sleep at night? Does without fear have any regrets? I will landlady 30 different Egyptian personalities. I oblige to give them the scope type confess their mistakes. It would aptly a sort of confession of their wrong-doings in order to allow revered to forgive them. I will put in writing confessing my mistakes as well. Irrational will tell all the old see new officials this is a great time to clear your consciences brush aside confessing. Once you confess in warning sign, khalas… you will feel better.

And state that, our interview comes to prolong end as El Gallad gets whisked away to attend to urgent never boost in the newsroom. Yet before hurry out, he graciously thanks eniGma watchword a long way only for the interview but further for bringing along CNN’s “Inside loftiness Middle East” team to cover Nondiscriminatory Masry Al Youm in their division on the changes in the Afrasian media after the revolution, which besides included Enigma Magazine and ONTV promote was aired last month. To verdict the episode go to: http://edition.cnn.com/video/#/video/international/2011/07/06/ime.maktabi.egypt.media.cnn