Egypt's national newspapers abandon support for Morsi

Egyptian newspapers reflect the nation's mood, experts claim National newspapers in Egypt abandoned their support for the ruling Muslim Brotherhood regime with hard-hitting frontpages on Wednesday. Media pundits said the change in stance from editors appointed by Shura Council speaker and head of Supreme Press Council Ahmed Fahmy was apparent.
Flagship state newspaper al-Ahram used italics to ask the question "Dismissal or Resignation?" The same font was used during the overthrow of former President Hosni Mubarak, when the newspaper wrote: "The people ousted the regime."
State-owned semi-official newspaper al-Akhbar used the headline "Departure Day," in reference to President Morsi's potential resignation or ouster.
Egyptian media experts believe that some of the biggest national newspapers have now turned their back on Morsi. Media professor Mohamed Mansour told Arab Today that al-Ahram and al-Akhbar are dealing with Morsi in the way they dealt with Mubarak. He added that the press can sense when the tide in public opinion is turning, and in this case the papers have turned against the ruling regime.
The independent newspaper al-Masry al-Youm (Egypt Today) used the headline "Egypt returns in a few hours," pointing to Egypt being handed back to the electorate after 12 months of Brotherhood rule. Another independent newspaper, al-Youm al-Sabea (Seventh Day) wrote "Presidential confusion before army's deadline."
The partisan al-Wafd newspaper went with the headline "The departure today," and outlined details of the military's roadmap according to army sources. Opposition newspaper al-Tahrir (The Liberation) wrote "A new president for Egypt?" arguing that Morsi is now clinging on to power.
In the last 12 months, Egyptian newspapers have generally been seen as Pro-Morsi and Muslim Brotherhood.