I’ve just came home after another long day at work. Only difference is today ended with a cake in the office and me yelling and jumping in excitement. I even slammed a zaghrouda into the office Al Masry Al Youm’s long awaited news portal is finally going online! Well, it’s a soft launch of phase 1 – but still…. we are online!
This is my first experience with an Egyptian media and I have to say it is really interesting and rich. I first met Ehab el Zelaky, portal editor, at a down town Cairo cafe in July 08. At that time we both had vague ideas of cooperation. Like any new job it started misty.. but in addition there was this large newsroom and the 100+ young reporters filling it. Slowly I felt closer to colleagues and bit by bit ideas were being born, experimented, and most of them made it, or are making it, to the portal! New media, video journalism, flip cameras, social networks, creative commons, citizen journalism, animated caricature, and more!
Many things helped reach this point. Most importantly the organisation being young – today marks its 5th anniversary; the board being enlightened and persistent; reporters, photographers, and caricaturists use internet as a daily friendly routine filing their reports and communicating electronically. Basic sense of new media was THERE.
Working for a big media organisation is something I did not really comprehend until that day a reporter came into the office with a video she captured on brutal and savage culling of pigs. Since the portal was not yet online we had to upload to other social networks. A link was published at Al Masry Al Youm’s print edition and in few minutes the viewership counter was jumping like crazy and comments flooding in! Only then I comprehended what “mass communication” is about and the five years of readership building the portal today inherits! It is certainly different but not necessarily doomed to clash with independent citizen media. I certainly believe not.
Throughout past months many friends helped with advise, ideas, references, contacts, support, companionship, … to them all I am indebted. Not to mention qualified colleagues and great work team. Have to say I am both happy and lucky.
Hmm.. Have no clue what the coming few days may look like! More work or some sit back and reflect? still misty.
Don’t forget to check the portal and give feedback.
Good night