Shahira Amin is an Egyptian freelance journalist who works mostly with Inside Africa and CNN.com of CNN. She also contributes to the portal Index on Censorship, which dwells on free expression. Shahira previously held the post of senior anchor and Correspondent for Nile TV, an English language Channel in Egypt’s state television. She was promoted to Deputy Head of the channel, before she quit from the channel to protest against the political turbulence in the country.
Shahira Amin is at present based in Cairo and lives with her partner. She has a daughter who lives with her and a son who lives separately. Shahira Amin has lived in many parts of the world as the nature of her job keeps her on the move permanently. She has lived in places like Abu Dhabi, Malaysia, UK, and Sri Lanka. She has revealed that the safety of her family was what worried her most in her job as journalist.
Amin finished her early education at British International Schools in Kuala Lumpur, Colombo, and Accra. Armed with master’s degree in television journalism from American University in Cairo, Shahira Amin started her career as radio DJ and later moved on to Egypt’s state television Nile TV in 1994, where she served as news correspondent and also an anchor. She was soon promoted to deputy head of the channel. She worked for CNN in its Inside Africa section and also did some broadcasting work for CNN’s official website in the year 2000.
Shahira Amin quit from her job at Nile TV in Feb 2011, when the political unrest and public protests were at their peak. Though many believe that the media has gained a lot after the revolution, Amin thinks that the exact opposite has happened. According to her, the army is in total control and more intimidating than Mubarak. She returned in May 2011 to host In the Hot Seat. Her interview with Gilad Shalit, an Israeli soldier released after 5 years of captivity in Gaza, spurred criticism all around as it was thought that the interview was held in the presence of armed Hamas militants. But Amin refuted all the claims categorically.
Shahira Amin has a powerful and imposing presence in Egyptian media. She has won the CNN World report’s best news award and the Catalyst for Change Award from American university in Cairo. She was also honored with the Holmes of the year award by the University of Gotheborg. UNICEF has recognized her active involvement in emancipation of women and children in Egypt. She is at present hosting the weekly program ‘In the Hot Seat’, which is broadcasted in all the Arabian countries. She interviews eminent personalities and does not wish to return to reading news.
| Occupations: | Journalist |
| Citizenship: | Egypt |
| residence: | Cairo |
| Gender: | Female |
| Description: | Egyptian journalist |
