The Pros and Cons of Online Journalism Practice in Egypt

This chapter examines the pros and cons of online journalism in Egypt. It begins by providing a synopsis of online journalism in general with a focus on how it has disrupted legacy media. The chapter highlights how this disruption has led mostly to the erosion of cultural capital of institutionalized journalism—quality journalism. It also offers a short preview of Egyptian media landscape and then looks at how online journalism is utilized to consolidate quality journalism in Egypt. The chapter shows that journalism practice, according to online journalists, is hampered and occasionally stifled by laws regulating their practice. The authorities retort that regulations, though seen as tough by reporters, are there to help fact-check information. Finally, the chapter provides some recommendations on how journalists can maintain their professional values in the face of overwhelming digitization and regulatory procedures.