JORDAN 1. What are the most important national media institutions (regional media institutions based in your country) including: newspapers, radio and television that are found in your country? Give a brief profile of each including: ownership date of establishment circulation scope of work and most important characteristics? In Jordan, there are five daily Arabic newspaper and one English language newspaper. These newspapers are: 1. El-Distoor (constitution) which was launched in 1967. El-Distoor is ranked as the second widely circulated newspaper in Jordan. Through the General Establishment for Social Security, the Government owns 30 per cent of the shares of el-distoor. 2. El-Raai (opinion), which was established in 1971. El-Raai is considered to be the most influential and widely circulated newspaper in Jordan. Through the General Establishment for Social Security, the Government owns 60 per cent of the shares of el-raai. 3. Jordan Times is an English language newspaper, which was launched in 1977. 4. El-Arab el-youm (Arabs Today) was established in 1997. 5. El-Diar (homes), which was established in 2004. 6. El-Ghaad (tomorrow), which was established in 2004. In addition to the above listed six daily papers, there are 21 weekly newspapers, which are privately owned. In Jordan, the Government owns the official TV & radio stations. Recently, the Government has allowed the private sector to launch FM radio stations. 2. What are the most important legal stipulations and provisions that sponsor the work of mass media (the Constitution, the laws and regulating procedures)? To what extent do such stipulations ensure the freedom of the mass media institutions and the press reporters in dealing with issues of public interest, and those related to state and public institutions reform? Are there laws pertaining to censorship, defamation and libel, media morals and ethics, as well as laws regulating the profession and the sector, etc.? During the past ten years, Jordan was beset with legislation confusion especially with the laws pertaining to media work. Within this period, more than one law was issued to govern the press and publishing in Jordan. This law has been amended more than once. Recently, the Government declared a new press and publishing draft bill, which was referred to the parliament for approval. It is safe to say that Jordan has been passing into a transitional period for the past fifteen years. Any transitional period is characterized by confusion 1
in laws and perplexing practices in enforcing them. Although the Jordanian constitution, issued in 1951, guarantees the people's right and freedom to obtain data and information, it has made it necessary to pass a law that governs and organizes practicing this right. For long periods of time, Jordan has been living under martial law, which means that the Jordanians have suffered from news blackout and lack of information. The Government justified its stance by saying that the news and information would disturb national security. As a result, Jordan ended up with thirteen (13) laws, whose articles are associated with the media. Attached are copies of the most articles and laws. They are as follows: 1. Law No.15/1998 pertaining to the Jordanian Journalists' Syndicate 2. Article No. 16 of the Penal Code of 1960 and its amendments 3. Contempt of Court Law No.9/ 1959 4. Juvenile Laws No. 24/1968 and No. 7/1983 5. Military Penal Code No. 43/1952 6. Defense Law No.31/1992 7. Law No.50/1971 for protecting the secrets and documents of the State 8. State Security Laws Nos. 17/1959, 30/1959, and 6/1993 9. Basics of Criminal Trials Law No.9/1991 and its amendments 10. Conciliation Court Law No.15/1952, which was amended in compliance with Law No.25/1988 11. Higher Court of Justice Law No.12/1992 12. Political Parties' Law No.32/1992 13. Municipalities' Law No.29/1955 and its amendments. 3. What is the role played by the ministries concerned (the Ministry of Information, etc.), official or joint authorities (the Information Higher Council) in regulating, setting up the framework and monitoring the media scope of work? At present there is no Ministry of Information in Jordan as it was cancelled in October 2003. However, the Higher Media Council has replaced the Ministry of Information. The Council has executive arms and its own law. It has nine members, who are appointed by the Government. The Government is keen to appoint representatives from the daily newspapers and the official directorates concerned as Council members. These members are a majority in the Council. Theoretically, there is no censorship in Jordanian newspapers. But, the various articles of the Jordanian laws have created a sort of self-imposed censorship. There Press and Publishing Directorate, which is affiliated to the Higher Media Council, is the Government's agency that is concerned with the press. As for the TV and Radio, they are under the supervision of the Audio-Visual Authority. 2
4. Are there any media syndicates or alliances? How independent are they? Do they seek to protect the freedom of expression and media men s rights? The law commits Jordanian journalists to become members of the Journalists' Syndicate. Therefore, the majority of the journalists are members of the Syndicate, which has 600 members. During the past few years, the Syndicate, which follows up the court cases against the journalists, has managed to release some of its imprisoned/detained members and re-launch some of the newspapers, which the Government has suspended. However, the Syndicate is not concerned with defending the freedom of expression or widening the margin/scope of freedom. The Syndicate accepts the membership of journalists from the state owned newspapers. These journalists, who are regarded as state employees, usually participate in the syndicate elections in order to help the candidates of the Government win. The membership of these journalists has aroused suspicions about the independence of the Syndicate. 5. What is the number of reporters and media men working in the media inside your country? What are their most important characteristics (e.g. age, nationality education professional qualifications)? In Jordan, there are 600 journalists, 20 per cent of whom are women. The majority of journalists are young people, who are university graduates. In the meantime, the training courses, which are needed for improving the technical skills of the journalists, are too few. Therefore, the professional level in the Jordanian newspapers is weak and low. 6. To what extent can the mass media exercise freedom of expression? What are the reasons of censoring, chasing, harassing, banning mass media as well as using other means of curbing the freedom of the media? Since there is a myriad of press laws, journalists practice some sort of selfimposed censorship. Depending on the political conditions at home, the level of the freedom of expression fluctuates. Sometimes, it is up and sometimes it down. Jordan, which witnessed the chasing of journalists by the security authorities, has recoded three cases in which journalists were imprisoned during the past five years. The latest of these cases is a decree by which journalist Fahd el-rimawi has been detained for his views and el-majd (glory) newspaper has been suspended. Three weeks later, the decree was rescinded. The harassment of journalists is rife in the newspapers, where the Government in a roundabout way appoints journalists in the top posts. These top-level journalists assume the role of censors and curb the freedom of expression. In the privately-owned but maverick newspapers, the Government would either stop running its paid advertisements in them. 3
During certain times, the Government orders the official news agency (Petra) to stop relaying its news items to these newspapers. 7. Is there sufficient freedom and possibility of creating new mass media within the state monopoly, conditions of licensing, conditions of funding and conditions of technology for creating such media (ranging from printing, the distribution of radio waves, providing television channels and facilitating electronic communication, etc?) Theoretically, the State distances itself from owning shares in newspapers. However, the State, through the General Establishment for Social Security, owns two-thirds of the shares in the biggest newspaper in addition to onethird of the shares of the second biggest newspaper in Jordan. Moreover, the state completely owns the official media, which is made from the news agency (Petra), the television and the radio. In Jordan, it is difficult for private individuals to issue a daily newspaper because the law has set a potential capital of 500,000 (half a million) dinars when applying for launching this venture. As for the weekly publications, the law has set a potential capital of 50,000 (fifty thousand) dinars for launching this project. For this reason, the number of weekly publications in Jordan exceeds the daily ones. The State monopolizes the (airwaves) radio stations, and it is the only authority that decides whether to allow or prevent private individuals from using them. 8. Are there several mass media in your country providing for competition? Are there opposition mass media? Competition between the daily Jordanian newspapers is almost nonexistent. Sometimes, the front pages of Jordanian newspapers are almost the same because these papers entirely depend on the official news items that are being relayed by the only news agency (Petra). Sometimes, the newspapers race to raise social issues, which touch the daily life of the citizen (s). There are weekly newspapers, which are the mouthpieces of political and opposition movements. For example, there are: el-sabeel (the road) newspaper which is organ of the Islamic movement, el-majd (glory), which is closely associated with the nationalist and Nasserite movement, and el- Wihdah (union), which has close ties with the leftist movement. It is noticed there is a wide-scale competition among the independent weekly newspapers, which have a high level of diversity. However, these newspapers often resort to publishing sensational news features/stories in order to increase the number of their readers. 4
9. What is the balance of power between national mass media and foreign mass media in your country working through radio and satellite television? The sales/circulation of local newspapers has been low particularly during the past five years due to competition between the Jordanian media and the foreign sources of information like the satellite TV channels, which broadcast news and news analyses that deal with Arab and international issues. It is safe to say that the Jordanian citizen trusts and watches the Arab satellite TV channels more than the local media. Since the Jordanian media does not care about covering/discussing the controversial home news/issues, the Internet has become an alternative source of information for many Jordanians because it is easy to access and its contents are difficult to be monitored, or censored. 10. How much coverage and follow up does the media give to issues of state, public administration and public institutions reform? Are there any programs or sections covering such issues? Coverage is limited to official programs and activities of Jordanian officials. There are no specialized programs about this issue. However, they take the form of talk shows, which host Government officials, who give their views on the issue. 11. Do citizens, civil society institutions and public sectors resort to the mass media to voice their opinions, forward their suggestions for reforming the state, public administration and public institutions? By and large, the newspapers receive and publish letters of complaint about the work method of the administrative bodies. However, it is rare to find a letter containing a proposal on how to improve these bodies. The media apparatuses hold seminars and invite representatives from the civil society associations to discuss the Government's reform programs. However, the people react coolly to this issue. 12. How easy or difficult is it for reporters and the mass media to access information, data and official documents? To what extent can such information be leaked to the mass media? Article No.8 of the Press and Publishing Law stipulates that the journalist has the right to have access to information. But, this law does not commit official agencies to comply with a journalist's request to obtain the needed information. In addition, there is no measure that can be taken against these agencies for refusing to provide a journalist with information. Law No.50/1971 for protecting the secrets and documents of the State, which has been a tentative legislation since 1971, is considered to be the biggest web for keeping the information and data as secret for no logical reasons. The provisions of this law are laced with vagueness and 5
impreciseness. The only aim they have is widening the scope of incrimination and penalties without any legal or logical reason. Sometimes, information is leaked through many channels and methods. However, the publishing of these leaked data cause many troubles that may lead to court trials and litigation. 13. To what extent is information made public, available and accessible concerning: Discussions and decisions of the Ministers' Council Only what the Government announces through its official spokesman after thee meetings. However, the Jordanian newspapers, sometimes, obtain exclusive statements. Parliamentary debates They are made public except for those held behind closed doors. Debates at parliamentary committees They are public except for their closed-door meetings. Legislations and decrees They are made public and published. Reports by watchdog authorities They are made public and published. The state budget and its items They are published, except for security and royal expenditures. Court rulings They can appear in print after appearing in the Official Gazette. National statistics They are published. Other official documents and papers They are available depending on the importance and sensitivity of their topics. 14. What are the most important laws and regulations pertaining to documents, data and official information and their accessibility? As mentioned before, there are 13 laws pertaining to this issue. They can be easily obtained. A detailed description of these laws is enclosed. 15. Are there pressure exercised, initiatives taken, or campaigns launched to expand the scope of freedom for citizens and mass media to have access to information and official documents? Are there any proposals to draft relevant bills? There are no organized initiatives inside Jordan. But there is pressure that takes the shape of press campaigns pertaining to the Press and Publishing Law. However, there are no effective demands for endorsing a special law to secure access to information. 6