New Editors for Al-Ahram, Rose al-Youssef, Other State Press

Egyptian Prime Minister Essam Sharaf has named new editors and other key administrators at the state-run flagship Al-Ahram, the influential opinion weekly Rose al-Youssef (once a satirical magazine known for its biting cartoons, lately a sycophantic tool of the regime) and some other state-run publications. In thre case of both Al-Ahram and Rose al-Youssef, the journalists on the staff had already revolted against the Mubarak-era editors. Sharaf moved while many of the young revolutionaries were planning to demand such changes this coming Friday.

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A PR Pro's Dream Photo

An article in The National on an "Invigorated" Mahmoud ‘Abbas and his renewed confidence is illustrated with a photo that must be as PR flack's dream:


Of course, they may have had to use several birds to get there, and maybe it pooped on him minutes later, but the photographer did get his shot. And he seems to be smiling, even if he's worried it's going to peck his forehead.

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Saudi Paper Criticizes British Press on Royals

This blog has taken no notice of Prince William's recent engagement; the ghost of my Irish great-grandmother would haunt me if I showed much interest in the House of Windsor. But I did find it amusing to see a writer in the Saudi English-language paper Arab News' indignation that the British press keeps running polls on whether Prince William, instead of his father, should succeed when Queen Elizabeth goes.

I'm sure it has absolutely nothing to do with the news that King ‘Abdullah is heading to the US for medical treatment and his Crown Prince also-ailing Prince Sultan (also in his 80s) is filling in, but the author is rather livid that the British press might speculate about lines of succession:

Since the public has no say whatsoever when it comes to the royal line of succession, such polls are not only inconsequential but are also hurtful to the royal family. The Daily Mail got into the act as well with a Harris poll showing 48 percent of respondents prefer King William to King Charles.

For one thing, such questions are premature when the queen at age 82 is still healthy and has sworn to serve as monarch until her last breath. Indeed, if she carries the same genes as the late Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother she could remain on the throne for up to 20 years. Any speculation as to who should succeed her is disrespectful and akin to dancing on her grave.

No, nothing to do with succession speculation anywhere else. No lèse majesté for us please, we're Saudi.

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Ibrahim Eissa in CJR

Fired Egyptian Editor Ibrahim Eissa now has a column again online, at what is now called "The Original Dostor" (since he, not the company, owned the domain name), but this interview in the Columbia Journalism Review is of interest.

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