Lina Attalah

Lina Attalah is an Egyptian journalist and media entrepreneur known for her work in independent journalism in the Arab world. Attalah studied journalism at the American University in Cairo. Her career has focused on holding power accountable within challenging media environments. She has published articles in Al-Masry Al-Youm, Cairo Times, The Daily Star, Christian Science Monitor, and for Thomson Reuters. Attalah also reported from Darfur, Sudan, covering the conflict for BBC World Service Trust.

Before establishing Mada Masr, Attalah served as managing editor of Egypt Independent, which closed in 2013. With more than 16 years of experience, she has covered major regional stories, including Egypt's revolution, Syria's conflict, and Iran's presidential elections. Following the closure of Egypt Independent, Attalah co-founded Mada Masr with a group of editors and journalists, aiming to document significant political changes in Egypt and provide a locally conceived record of events.

Attalah is co-founder and chief editor of Mada Masr, an online news organization recognized for investigative journalism in Egypt. The site has reported on topics such as government management of prisons, the influence of the security apparatus on parliament, and the experiences of Sudanese refugees. Under Attalah's leadership, Mada Masr has remained a source of independent news despite government harassment and controls. She is also co-founder of Take to the Sea, a research and artistic collective focused on migration and mobility.

Attalah's journalism has involved personal risk. She was briefly detained by Egyptian security services after Mada Masr published an article about government affairs. Authorities have blocked the Mada Masr site, but the organization continues to publish through alternate sites and social media. After reporting on alleged corruption within the Nation's Future Party, Attalah and three staff members faced criminal charges before being released on bail. Despite these challenges, Attalah continues her work in press freedom and independent media.

Attalah has received international recognition for her impact. Time Magazine named her a New Generation Leader and included her among the 100 Most Influential People. She is a recipient of the Knight International Journalism Award from the International Center for Journalists and was awarded the Ordre des Arts et des Lettres with a Knight degree by the French embassy in Cairo. Attalah is a frequent speaker on press freedom, independent media, and innovative funding models for digital journalism.