The remarks were made during a meeting held late on Sunday between Rashwan and the editors-in-chief of national newspapers and magazines to discuss the future of Egypt’s press sector. The meeting was organized in coordination with Abdel-Sadek El-Shorbagy, chairman of the National Press Authority.
Rashwan said Egyptian journalism remains “the oldest and most influential” and continues to hold a leading position due to its long-established professional standards and distinguished journalists and intellectuals who enjoy credibility and influence inside and outside Egypt.
During discussions that lasted more than four hours, Rashwan said he remains confident that Egyptian journalism is still “the most important figure in the contemporary media equation” despite challenges facing national press institutions and the rapid rise of digital media.
He described online and digital media platforms as both an opportunity and a challenge, saying press institutions should strengthen their digital presence by using modern media tools and applications to produce professional journalism that reaches younger audiences.
Such efforts, he said, would help professional journalism become “the strongest, wisest, and highest-quality voice” in confronting what he described as chaotic and irresponsible content spread by some social media users lacking professional media standards.
Rashwan said the role of the Ministry of State for Media, in line with directives from President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi and assignments from the prime minister, is to articulate the state’s official policies and coordinate among media institutions and various forms of print, broadcast, and digital media to ensure messaging remains aligned with facts, professional standards, national interests, and societal needs.
He emphasized that the ministry’s role does not involve interfering in the work of independent media bodies, but rather coordinating and cooperating with them while ensuring compliance with constitutional guarantees related to freedom of expression and freedom of the press and media.
The minister praised the national role played by state-owned press institutions, describing “public service journalism” as journalism that serves society and is driven not only by profit but also by social and national responsibility.
Editors-in-chief who participated in the meeting said they expected the ministry to play a greater role in improving communication between newspapers and state institutions, particularly in facilitating access to information and proposing practical solutions to challenges facing the press sector.
The editors said the lack of timely and accurate information extended beyond headlines to include background and context. They called on ministers, officials, and government spokespersons to engage more regularly with journalists and better inform the public about issues of concern.
They also called for increased support for training programmes and the development of digital infrastructure to help newspapers compete in the digital media landscape.
Editors highlighted worsening economic pressures on national newspapers, citing declining print circulation, rising printing costs, falling advertising revenues, and the need to appoint and train a new generation capable of sustaining Egypt’s national press institutions.
Rashwan pledged to study possible solutions in cooperation with the National Press Authority and urged newspapers to invest more heavily in digital media, conduct studies on readers’ interests and trends, and make better use of existing assets, including digitizing historical newspaper archives.
The minister also said the ministry would make every effort to ensure a steady flow of official information and improve officials’ responsiveness to newspapers and magazines.
He also called for greater attention to investigative journalism, addressing societal issues through scientific and professional methods, more innovative social and cultural coverage aimed at younger generations, and a stronger focus on issues directly affecting citizens.
The meeting was attended by senior editors and heads of national press institutions, including representatives from Al-Ahram, Al-Ahram Weekly, Akhbar Al-Youm, Al-Gomhuria, Rose Al-Youssef, Dar Al-Hilal, Dar Al-Maaref, and the Middle East News Agency (MENA).
The meeting comes amid broader state efforts to restructure and modernize Egypt’s media sector following the re-establishment of the Ministry of State for Media in February and the appointment of veteran journalist and former State Information Service chief Rashwan as minister.
Rashwan previously said Egypt’s media sector was facing a “major crisis” that required reform focused on professionalism, transparency, and improving communication with the public.
The discussions also follow a series of meetings and directives from President El-Sisi concerning media performance, public communication, and coordination among state media institutions. In February, Prime Minister Mostafa Madbouly met with Rashwan to review a media action plan prepared under El-Sisi’s directives to improve media performance and public outreach mechanisms.
Days later, Rashwan held a meeting with the heads of the Supreme Council for Media Regulation (SCMR), the National Press Authority (NPA), and the National Media Authority (NMA), where officials pledged “serious and continuous cooperation” to advance Egypt’s media sector, strengthen professional standards, improve the flow of accurate information, and support media institutions in line with the state’s development plans.
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