The ceremony, set to commence at 5:00pm (Cairo time), pays tribute to Palestinian journalists who have been surviving and reporting despite the horrific conditions in Gaza and the West Bank amid the Israeli war there.

The event, held under the patronage of Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly, will also feature artistic performances and films celebrating Egyptian journalism, the struggles of female journalists, and the sacrifices of Palestinian journalists who lost their lives in the line of duty.

Prominent Egyptian and Arab journalists and delegations from the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the Federation of Arab Journalists, and Arab journalists’ syndicates will be present.

Khaled El-Balshy, head of Egypt's Journalists Syndicate, outlined that the 6th general conference focuses on three main pillars: freedoms, legislation, and the future and economics of journalism.

Established in 1941, Egypt's Journalists Syndicate held its first general conference in 1964, the second in 1991, the third in 1995, the fourth in 2004, and the fifth in 2016.

While the syndicate's General Assembly convenes for administrative purposes such as approving budgets or conducting elections, the general conference is held to discuss all professional challenges facing journalists and issue recommendations to address these issues.

 
Prominent attendees
 

Renowned anchor Gamal El-Shaer will present the ceremony, which promises speeches by El-Balshy, Wahid Abdel Meguid, the conference secretary-general, and Anthony Bellanger, IFJ secretary-general.

Nasser Abu Bakr, head of Palestine's journalists syndicate, and Palestinian journalist Rula al-Durrah, who survived an attack in Gaza that tragically claimed much of her family, will deliver heartfelt speeches.  

The ceremony will honour Palestinian journalists wounded in the line of duty, featuring a segment dedicated to commemorating the fallen heroes of Palestinian journalism.

Furthermore, a moving tribute will spotlight the sacrifices made by journalists who continue to document the reality of life under occupation, highlighting the pivotal role of journalism in addressing the brutal Israeli war on Gaza.

The ceremony will also feature visual storytelling through messages from former syndicate heads and films highlighting past conferences and the impactful contributions of Egyptian female journalists.

The evening will conclude on a cultural note with an artistic performance by the Palestinian "Sunflower Choir," which will chant several songs celebrating resistance and Palestinian heritage.

Key themes and discussions
 

Starting Sunday morning, the conference will transition to a full agenda of sessions featuring roundtable discussions and expert panels.

Among these issues are the conditions of Egyptian journalism and its legislative framework, press freedom, journalists' wages, and the challenges facing journalists.  

Speakers will include seasoned journalists, union leaders, journalism economists, training specialists, and digital journalism experts. 

Visionary outcome anticipated!
 

The conference is set to conclude Monday evening with a final session summarizing recommendations, which will summarize the preparation work that started in April.

Organizers hope these outcomes will pave the way for substantial progress in journalism, addressing its immediate challenges and long-term aspirations.

Gamal Abdel Rehim, Egypt's Journalists Syndicate general secretary, called on Egyptian journalists to attend the opening ceremony and participate actively in the conference sessions.

He highlighted that the conference is a platform for exchanging ideas, proposing solutions, and delivering recommendations that reflect the current realities of Egyptian journalism.