Columbia International Affairs Online: Working Papers

CIAO DATE: 09/2014

Egypt's Media in the Midst of Revolution

Rasha Abdulla

July 2014

Carnegie Endowment for International Peace

Abstract

More than three years after the January 25 revolution toppled then Egyptian president Hosni Mubarak, Egypt continues to struggle with an authoritarian media sector and constraints on freedom of expression. Postrevolution regimes have not capitalized on opportunities to reform state and private media, and critical voices have been harassed and marginalized by state and nonstate actors. As long as Egypt continues to be governed by rulers who believe controlling the media is in their best interest, reform will only come about through the few dissident voices in the media backed up by support from civil society and the masses.