Introduction
Media ownership in Egypt is divided mainly between state-owned media and private media. Partisan media used to enjoy some freedom and direct some criticism, yet they were vulnerable to government pressure if they overstepped certain boundaries. Currently, their existence and impact are unrecognised. Private media are not totally independent as their licenses are issued by the General Authority For Investment and Free Zones (GAFI), a governmental body, which makes them cautious in their criticism of the government officials and personnel. At the time of writing, the Supreme Council for Media Regulation (SCMR) has not yet issued any procedures of licensing new private channels or new private radio stations.