
Masrawy news website change into black and white in solidarity with strike
Egypt's news websites have responded in a variety of ways to a media strike called for Tuesday and Wednesday.
Twelve Egyptian newspapers and five TV channels announced that they would go on strike for one day to object to the recently issued constitutional declaration and the draft constitution.
Newspapers announcing their participation did not publish a Tuesday edition. TV channels are expected to blacken their screens on Wednesday.
Egypt Independent, Al-Masry Al-Youm's English news website, has completely halted work and covered its main page with a statement reading "You are reading this message because Egypt Independent objects to continued restrictions on media liberties, especially after hundreds of Egyptians gave their lives for freedom and dignity."
Al-Masry Al-Youm daily newspaper is amongst the 12 newspapers that have gone on a one-day strike.
Masrawy expressed its solidarity by changing its news website to black and white. Daily News Egypt has added a logo to its website with the words "Tuesday Press Strike … No to Dictatorship."
Members of the Al-Ahram Arabic website went on a partial strike on Monday and released a statement in solidarity with Tuesday's press strike.
Ahram Online will only be publishing news about the strike and protests against the constitutional declaration and constitution. Work will be halted between 1:45 and 3:45 to allow journalists to participate in a press syndicate march to Tahrir Square at 2pm.
The draft constitution, which was passed on 30 November by the Islamist-dominated Constituent Assembly and is set to be voted on in a referendum on 15 December, does not include articles against the imprisonment of journalists in cases related to freedom of expression as demanded by journalists.
The Journalists Syndicate's executive council had withdrawn its representatives from the Constituent Assembly in mid-November after its recommendations and suggestions were ignored by the assembly.
Newspapers that have went on strike include Al-Masry Al-Youm, Al-Watan, Al-Tahrir, Al-Wafd, Al-Youm 7, Al-Dostour, Al-Shorouk, Al-Sabah, Al-Ahaly, Al-Ahrar, Al-Fagr and Osbooa.
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