Syndicate split on mechanisms to grant digital journalists protection

The Journalists Syndicate held an open panel discussion on Saturday evening on union protection for working journalists and the institutional controls to regulate the profession, in the presence of Journalists Syndicate Head Khaled Elbalshy, several board members, editors-in-chief of news websites, and a group of young journalists.

Participants in the session agreed on the necessity of extending union protection to journalists working at digital news outlets, though views varied on the mechanisms for doing so, given that the Journalists Syndicate Law restricts membership to those working for print institutions.

Elbalshy emphasized the importance of extending the union umbrella to include workers at news websites, while simultaneously warning against the “infiltration of imposters” and stressing the need for strict controls to regulate the registration process.

Elbalshy noted that the Supreme Council for Media Regulation is a partner in the process by obligating the owners of journalistic institutions to safeguard the rights of their workers.

Journalists Syndicate Undersecretary for Healthcare Mohamed El-Garhy said Saturday’s meeting was the first in a series of discussions that will include legal and technical experts to explore ways to protect journalists working at digital outlets.

El-Garhy added, “We are facing a real test regarding the independence of the syndicate,” in light of calls for an independent entity for digital websites.

Former syndicate undersecretary Gamal Fahmy said that the syndicate will form a committee including legal experts to discuss amending its bylaws and the syndicate law to bring digital journalists under its protection umbrella.

Disagreement over mechanisms 

Al-Wafd newspaper journalist Mahmoud El-Sherbiny stressed the importance of admitting digital journalists to the Journalists Syndicate, noting that many young reporters produce impactful work that reaches the public.

He dismissed fears of non-journalists infiltrating the syndicate as a reason to block digital workers, stating that “refusing to admit them under the pretext of avoiding the infiltration of non-journalists is unreasonable.”

He added, “Print newspapers no longer exist,” expressing admiration for the fact-checking content produced by the Matsadaash platform.

He urged the syndicate to establish clear public and internal registration rules to verify that applicants are working journalists with the necessary professional skills.

ONA Press Agency Editor-in-Chief Magdy Elgalad said, “I came to speak on behalf of 300 of my colleagues at the agency,” before journalist Rana Elgmiey interrupted him, saying, “You fired me from the website.”

Elgalad replied that he would not comment on “side matters,” adding that his remarks would focus on three main points, including that “the profession and the member are the syndicate’s concern.”

He continued, “If digital journalism needs a legal umbrella to protect it, it must be the Journalists Syndicate, and standards and controls must be established to achieve this.”

He called on the syndicate and relevant bodies to define digital journalism and set clear registration controls so that the process does not become, as he put it, “opening the registration roll to the public.”

He added, “Speaking for our institution, I do not have a single journalist who is not socially insured,” before another journalist interrupted him, saying, “But you fire people, this is hypocrisy, all false slogans.”

Elgalad replied that he “feels sorry” when he is forced to clarify the reasons for excluding a colleague from the institution, adding that the syndicate was a party to the termination of any contracts.

Al Manassa journalist Mostafa Bassiouny said that legal protection for workers at digital newspapers is “a right that cannot be debated,” emphasizing the necessity of extending it to them.

Bassiouny added that, until the necessary legal amendments are made, an association or section could be established within the syndicate for journalists working on news websites, undertaking the defense of their rights temporarily until they are included in the working rolls.

Proposed legal solutions

Journalist and former candidate for syndicate head Khaled Miri said Article 1 of the Press and Media Law includes a definition of digital journalism and digital journalists, arguing that this text can used as a legal solution to extend union protection.

Miri explained that while the constitution stipulates a single professional syndicate to regulate journalism, the Press and Media Law defines a journalist to encompass both print and digital media workers.

As an alternative to amending the Journalists Syndicate Law, Miri proposed requesting that the Supreme Council for Media Regulation to add a clause to Article 1 of the Press and Media Law defining digital journalists to complement Article 5 of the syndicate law.

He pointed out that Article 6 of the syndicate law addresses the definition of a “working journalist,” while Article 5 defines journalists in general, noting that adding the definition from Article 1 of the Press and Media Law to Article 5 could resolve the legal bottleneck.

Journalists Syndicate board member Ayman Abdel Meguid said the syndicate law “has grown old,” arguing that the current text does not permit digital journalists to join.

He added that the law “does not allow for alternative interpretations,” making legislative changes necessary to enable digital journalists to join.

Abdel Meguid noted that the Regulation of Press and Media Law No. 180 of 2018 recognizes digital journalists, while the Journalists Syndicate law does not include the same text.

Preventing “cowboy websites”

Journalist Akram Elkassas said that if the syndicate wants to prevent “cowboy websites” from exploiting any future amendments, it must hold a broad discussion to establish stringent registration rules.

He suggested these rules require a clear financial and administrative structure or a financial guarantee from press institutions to ensure their operational credibility.

He added, “I don’t want to admit journalists to the syndicate only for their website to close down, leaving the journalist to rely on syndicate allowances.”

“I swear, if it were up to me I would, but I cannot. The allowance is the root of all the friction; get rid of the allowance and everything will be fine,” he added, a suggestion that drew anger from several attendees.

During the session, journalist Rana Elgmiey asked the syndicate head about a previous promise to admit digital journalists under an “affiliate roll.”

Elbalshy replied that this proposal was put forward about two years ago but was rejected by both sides: some journalists viewed it as an infringement on their rights, while the general assembly demanded further discussion before the syndicate board ultimately rejected it.