National Press Authority

The National Press Authority manages all state-owned print and online media outlets. It was created in 2014 after the Ministry of Information was abolished and with the proclamation of the new Egyptian Constitution, establishing independent bodies to manage state-owned media in a move to create a public service media sector.

However, the National Press Authority was not officially set up before 2018, when a new set of laws managing the media sector was adopted. According to Law No. 179 of 2018, the powers of the National Press Authority include:

• Controlling the economic and administrative performance of state-owned press organizations.
• Appointing the heads of the boards of directors of the state-owned press organizations, the editors of the publications issued by these organizations, and the websites, and their accountability in the event of a defect or failure in performance according to the plan adopted by the National Press Authority. The Authority may dismiss officials responsible for administrating or editing when a defect in performance has been proved, in accordance with the conditions that it establishes.
• Approving state-owned press organizations to establish companies either alone or in association with others to undertake economic or investment activities that do not conflict with their purposes.
• Incorporating state-owned press organizations and merge and abolish press releases within a single organization.
• Appointing members of the general assemblies of state-owned press organizations.

The National Press Authority receives financial resources from several sources, mostly the state budget, and 5% of the profits of state-owned press organizations, in addition to loans, grants and donations.

The National Press Authority manages the following organizations and their publications:

• Al Ahram Establishment
• Akhbar Al Youm
• Dar El Tahrir
• Middle East News Agency
• Dar Al Hilal
• Rose Al Yousef Foundation
• Dar Al Maaref
• Elkawmiah Distribution Company.

Article (7) of the Law No. 179 of 2018 deals with the formation of the Authority, which includes nine members from which the President directly chooses three members, namely the Chairman of the Commission and two experienced and public figures, While the Council of the Journalists Syndicate has to nominate two members and each of the Office of the house of Representatives and the Council of General Syndicate For Press, Printing & Advertising Employees nominate a member to represent them. These bodies may nominate twice the number required in the last three months of the Authority term of office for the President of the Republic to choose from them, in the absence of nominations from these bodies, the President of the Republic shall elect the members directly. While the Minister of Finance selects a member of the Authority as the representative of the Ministry of Finance and the Supreme Council of Administrative Affairs of the State Council elects a Vice-Chairman of the Council of State for membership of the Authority. Thus, the President of the Republic has the upper hand in the formation of the National Press Agency, which undermines its independence from the executive branch.

The President of the National Press Authority is Karam Gabr, who was appointed by President Sisi in April 2017.

> Read more about the Egyptian media legal framework