Press Syndicate Poll: Who are the winners?

By Nawal Sayed

CAIRO, March 17 (SEE) – The head of the State Information Service Diaa Rashwan was elected as head of the syndicate of Journalists, according to the judicial committee supervising elections of the press syndicate’s council on Friday.

Rashwan won with 2,810 votes; the second-highest scoring candidate, Refaat Rashad of Akhbar Al-Youm, got 1,545 votes.

"My colleagues, members of the General Assembly, thank you very much for this unprecedented presence in any election," said Rashwan.

"This is a very serious stage in the history of the profession."

Rashwan is the current head of the State Information Service (SIS), a former syndicate chairman, and former head of Al-Ahram Centre for Political and Strategic Studies.

A total of 11 candidates competed for the position of head of the syndicate.

The chairman of the committee said that the total number of journalists who voted was 4,588, and there were 235 invalid ballots.

A total of 52 members competed for the council positions from different national newspapers.

SEE publishes short biographies of the new six members who joined the 12-member council as follows:

• Khaled Mery

He is the incumbent editor-in-chief of national newspaper of Al-Akhbar. In May, 2017, the National Press Authority announced promoting Mery from the position of editor manager to the editorial board’s head.

In addition to his post as an undersecretary of the press syndicate, Mery is also the secretary-general of Arab Journalists’ Union.

Mery enjoys a huge popularity among journalists, especially the youth who believe in him.

He received 2003 votes in Friday’s elections.

"If I were eligible to cast my vote, I would definitely vote for Mery who is always encouraging youth," 29-year old jorunalist Mohamed Zoheiry said.

• Mohamed Shabana

Shabana is the editor-in-chief of Al-Ahram Sports newspaper and holds the post of the press syndicate’s treasury secretary.

The 47-year Sports journalist gained 1961 votes.

• Hesham Younes

He belongs to Al-Ahram institution. Younes graduated from the faculty of Mass Information, Zagazig University.

• Mohamed Yehia Youssef

Youssef is 38 years old and is one of the youngest members of the syndicate’s council.

He belongs to Akhbar Alyoum’s Sports editorial team. He gained 1154 votes.

• Mahmoud Kamel

Kamel, who is in his thirties, is one of Al-Akhbar’s editorial members. Previously, he was working for privately-owned newspaper Al-Masry Alyoum.

With 2107 votes, Kamel won his seat for the second time in a row.

Kamel enjoys popularity among Egyptian journalists.

• Hamad Al-Ramhy

Ramhy is working for Al-Dostour newspaper and is known for his services provided to all journalists. He gained 1288 votes.