Egypt was the first Arab nation to introduce the printing press and is today the region’s largest publishing centre. The country was also the first African and Arab nation to launch its own satellite in 1998. The majority of those working at Arab media networks are Egyptians, and content tends to be produced in Egypt’s Media Production City. Yet, today, instead of leading a regional media revolution, it appears that private media outlets have surrendered their role as the fourth estate: their role as checks and balances on the division of powers in Egypt is diminishing. Why is it important for private media to not shy away from holding the government accountable or questioning government policies? The answer goes back to the January 25 revolution in which the youth of Egypt chanted for bread, liberty and freedom: the media’s role as the fourth estate is an essential part of democracy that allows equal participation and a constant flow of information to the people on the various branches of the state. For the past 30 years, Egypt’s media had moved from a historically state-controlled sphere to a privatized one. Despite the…
