By: Hossam el-Hamalawy

Hossam el-Hamalawy — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 18:27:00 +0000

The journalists, who have syndicate membership, receive indeed supplemental income from the syndicate. The source of the syndicate’s money is not only the govt, but also membership fees, money from publishers, among others. The publishers were allowed into the syndicate from its start. This meant that both labor and management were together in the same association, which defies the whole menaing of a labor union or a syndicate. But having the publishers and board chairmen of newspapers meant also more money could be secured to the syndicate, in exchange for restricting those who are unionized. The pre-condition for joining the syndicate is that you have a contract from a publication. Most journalists work for 5 years before they get instated. So they stay with those low salaries for years, under the mercy of the “generousity” of the publisher (who is also a member of the syndicate) re when he/she will grant them the contracts needed for applying to the syndicate.

By: Inquiring mind

Inquiring mind — Mon, 10 Mar 2008 10:36:24 +0000

I have a few questions about the Journalist Syndicate here in Egypt. First, don’t members receive supplemental income as a member? And doesn’t the money paid out by the syndicate come from the government? And then doesn’t this in effect mean journalists receive income from the government? Also, is it true that a journalist must make a minimum of 200 LE salary per month to gain admission, and that this is a barrier to entry for many since salaries are so low?

Comments on: El-Badeel journalists demonstrate

By: Hossam el-Hamalawy

By: Inquiring mind