🇪🇬 Al-Masry Al-Youm

About Al-Masry Al-Youm

Al-Masry Al-Youm is a privately owned Egyptian daily newspaper, established in 2004 by businessman Salah Diab, who remains its major shareholder and chairman. It is published by Al Masry Establishment for Press, Printing and Publishing. Other prominent businessmen, including Naguib Sawiris, have been involved in its ownership.

Initially launched as an independent and liberal newspaper aiming for objective coverage, Al-Masry Al-Youm operates within Egypt's severely restricted media environment, which is characterized by a lack of press freedom and pervasive government control. The outlet has faced government pressures, including fines for controversial reporting, and has engaged in self-censorship, notably with the closure of its English-language supplement, Egypt Independent, after it published content critical of the military. Reporters Without Borders ranks Egypt very low in press freedom, indicating that most media outlets are openly supportive of the government or practice self-censorship to avoid repercussions.