Substantial setback for press freedom in Egypt

Distributed by the www.ArabAmericanNewsWire.com

Committee to Protect Journalists 330 Seventh Avenue, 11th Fl., New York, NY 10001 Phone: +1 (212) 465-1004 Fax: +1 (212) 465-9568

Contact: Mohamed Abdel Dayem, program coordinator. Phone: (212) 465-1004; E-mail: m.abdel.dayem@cpj.org

Substantial setback for press freedom in Egypt New York, April 13 2011- A new requirement by the Egyptian military that local print media obtain approval for all mentions of the armed forces before publication is the single worst setback for press freedom in Egypt since the fall of President Hosni Mubarak in February, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.   The director of the Morale Affairs Directorate of the Egyptian military, Maj. Gen. Ismail Mohamed Othman, sent a letter dated March 22 to editors of Egyptian publications demanding that they do not "publish any (topics, news, statements, complaints, advertisements, pictures) pertaining to the Armed Forces or to commanders of the Armed Forces without first consulting with the Morale Affairs Directorate and the Directorate of Military Intelligence and Information Gathering, as they are the authorities specialized in reviewing such issues, [in an effort to] ensure the security and safety of the homeland." CPJ has received a photocopy of the letter, and Human Rights Watch reviewed it and confirmed its authenticity. Human Rights Watch first reported the existence of the memo on Monday. Several journalistic blogs have since picked up the story, in some instances posting a copy of the directive. A CPJ source confirmed the authenticity of the memo. CPJ has not been able to find any reporting about the letter in traditional news media in Egypt, an indication of the new rule's effectiveness. "The Egyptian military's letter to local editors amounts to censorship," said Mohamed Abdel Dayem, CPJ's Middle East and North Africa program coordinator. "This letter effectively institutionalizes a military censorship regime in Egypt, something that doubtlessly runs counter to the spirit and principles of the revolution." The military's letter to local publications comes shortly before another serious setback for press freedom in Egypt. On Sunday, a military court in Cairo sentenced blogger Maikel Nabil Sanad to three years in prison for "insulting the military" after a flawed trial. Sanad was arrested March 28 soon after writing an article in which he criticized the military for not being transparent in its decision-making.

CPJ is a New York-based, independent, nonprofit organization that works to safeguard press freedom worldwide.

Three Student Scholarships to be awarded at Annual Arab Journalism Confab

Distributed by the www.ArabAmericanNewsWire.com

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                                 Ray Hanania

APRIL 13, 2011                                                                                 rayhanania@comcast.net

                                                                                                                                    Laila alhusinni

                                                                                                            lealhusinni@yahoo.com

Three Student Scholarships to be awarded at Annual Arab Journalism Confab

Chicago/Detroit – The National American Arab Journalists Association will present three scholarships to students in their junior or senior years in High school or who are in college at the 6^th Annual Journalism Conference in Dearborn, Michigan April 29-May 1, 2011.

Students have been asked to submit a 1,000-word essay expressing a viewpoint on one of three important topics.

A)  The “Amer Legislation” which was signed in to law in Michigan in December 2010. In response to the tragedy and by the gross injustice endured by the Amer family. Questions include “How could media have played a more vital role in covering the story from the onset?” And “What difference could this have made for the Amer family, the Arab-American community, and other families.”
B)    American Media coverage of Arab-American communities
C)   American media coverage of the Arab World, Arab foreign policy (or combined with B).

The first place award recipient will be presented with a $1,000 check. Checks of $500 each will be presented to two other student applicants based on their writing style.

The deadline to submit an application is April 21. Applications can be obtained online at www.NAAJA-US.com. Using the drop down menu at the top of the page, select Conferences and then 2011 Dearborn Conference. There is also a direct link to the NAAJA Scholarships, along with information about the annual ADC Jack Shaheen Communications Scholarship.

Titled “American Arab Journalism 10 Years since Sept. 11^th Strengthening our role in educating the American Public & the Arab World,” the 2011 NAAJA Journalism Conference will closely examine the challenges facing American Arabs in the decade since the terrorism attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. And it will bring together journalists, communicators and activists from across the country.

“One of the primary goals of NAAJA is to support not only American Arabs who engage in professional journalism in mainstream media or the ethnic media, but to also support and encourage young people of Arab heritage to pursue careers in journalism, communications and related fields,” said NAAJA National Coordinator Ray Hanania.

The conference is featuring a wide range of journalists and speakers including: Phil Frayne, the Director of the Office of Press and Public Diplomacy for the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs . George Hishmeh, an award winning veteran journalist and former president of the Washington Arab Journalism Association, who will also offer special insights at a luncheon earlier in the day. Gala Dinner keynote speakers include Mohamed Abdel Dayem, Middle East & North Africa Program Coordinator for the Committee to Protect Journalists, and Lawrence Pintak, the author of the new book “The New Arab Journalist.”

The conference emcee this year is Warren David, president of ArabDetroit.com. The dinner will also feature a presentation on the civil rights challenges since Sept. 11.

Other speakers include Christine Tatum, former president of the Society of Professional Journalists. A complete listing of panels and speakers are available online.

More than 20 organizations and businesses and journalism associations are co-sponsoring the conference.

NAAJA also hosts the new Arab American News Wire (www.ArabAmericanNewsWire.com) which will pay freelance writers to write news and feature stories about American Arab and Muslim communities that will be distributed free-of-charge to American Arab and Muslim publications and media.

Registration is only $75 per person ($55 for students) and includes lunch and dinner plus full access to all panels on Saturday and the Saturday night Gala Banquet. The Hyatt is offering a special room rate of only $89 per night for conference attendees.

To register online or to get more information, please visit the official web page of NAAJA at www.NAAJA-US.com.  A link to the Dearborn conference, and past conferences, will direct you to registration.

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State Department official to present at Arab Journalism Conference Phil Frayne will review events sweeping the Middle East

Distributed by the www.ArabAmericanNewsWire.com

PRESS RELEASE

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                                       Ray Hanania

APRIL 13, 2011                                                                                  rayhanania  @  comcast.net

                                                                                                                        Laila alhusinni

                                                                                                            lealhusinni@yahoo.com

State Department official to present at Arab Journalism Conference
Phil Frayne will review events sweeping the Middle East

Chicago/Detroit – U.S. State Department official Phil Frayne will join a panel discussion at the 6^th Annual National American Arab Journalism Association convention addressing changes in the Middle East and American foreign policy.

Frayne, the Director of the Office of Press and Public Diplomacy for the Bureau of Near Eastern Affairs, will join professional American Arab journalists George Hishmeh and Ali Younes during the panel which is one of 12 panels that will be presented on Saturday April 30, 2011 during the conference program.

Titled “American Arab Journalism 10 Years since Sept. 11^th Strengthening our role in educating the American Public & the Arab World,” the 2011 NAAJA Journalism Conference will closely examine the challenges facing American Arabs in the decade since the terrorism attacks of Sept. 11, 2001.

“We’re very excited to have Mr. Frayne join our distinguished panels of speakers that will be presented in two separate conference rooms all day on Saturday during the conference,” said NAAJA National coordinator Ray Hanania.

“Mr. Frayne joins a panel of American Arab journalists who will discuss with attendees issues such as Arab world coverage of the pro-Democracy movements, the factors pushing for the change, and the challenges facing American Arab journalists seeking to educate the American public on Middle East issues.”

Mr. Hishmeh, an award winning veteran journalist and former president of the Washington Arab Journalism Association, will also offer special insights at a luncheon earlier in the day. The keynote speakers at the Gala Dinner that evening include Mohamed Abdel Dayem, Middle East & North Africa Program Coordinator for the Committee to Protect Journalists, and Lawrence Pintak, the author of the new book “The New Arab Journalist.”

The conference emcee this year is Warren David, president of ArabDetroit.com. The dinner will also feature a presentation on the civil rights challenges since Sept. 11.

Other panels will explore issues ranging from the attacks against American Arab journalists Helen Thomas and Octavia Nasr to the controversy surrounding the release of the movie Miral. A complete listing of panels are online on the official conference web site at:

www.NAAJA-US.com

Click the Conference Drop Down Menu and select 2011 Dearborn Conference at the top of the website.

“American Arab journalists are under siege,” observed alhusinni. “From Helen Thomas to Octavia Nasr, we are being targeted because of what we represent. And, what we represent is a determination to insure that the mainstream news media is fair, accurate and includes the voices of American Arabs and Muslims in their daily reporting. That doesn’t always happen.”

The conference goals are to strengthen the growing network of American Arab Journalists, NAAJA and help launch more chapter networks in other cities. Currently, NAAJA has more than 300 members – there is no fee to join – and has five chapters including in Chicago, Dearborn, Washington D.C., Oregon and Austin.

NAAJA will also recognize three students with scholarships ranging from $1,000 to two $500 awards. NAAJA is dedicated to supporting young American Arabs to help them pursue careers in journalism.

More than 20 organizations and businesses and journalism associations are co-sponsoring the conference.

NAAJA also hosts the new Arab American News Wire (www.ArabAmericanNewsWire.com) which will pay freelance writers to write news and feature stories about American Arab and Muslim communities that will be distributed free-of-charge to American Arab and Muslim publications and media.

Registration is only $75 per person ($55 for students) and includes lunch and dinner plus full access to all panels on Saturday and the Saturday night Gala Banquet. The Hyatt is offering a special room rate of only $89 per night for conference attendees.

To register online or to get more information, please visit the official web page of NAAJA at www.NAAJA-US.com.  A link to the Dearborn conference, and past conferences, will direct you to registration.

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