The recent decision to stop publishing the print edition of the British daily The Independent, which was in publication for more than 30 years, was likely a source of depression for many in the United Kingdom. But the decision was actually a cause for optimism among Egyptian journalists.
Many employees of Egyptian news organizations viewed the development as a possible solution to their own problems, particularly those journalists who work on the web versions of their newspapers. The Independent’s decision to cease paper publication — with the last issue going out on March 26 — gave them hope that Egyptian newspapers would cease publishing their print versions, or publish them on a weekly basis, to cut down on printing costs. This would contribute to alleviating these newspapers’ financial problems and, therefore, better guarantee the regular payment of staff salaries, or perhaps even lead to raises.
