AMMAN - Media experts on Wednesday welcomed with caution government amendments to the code of conduct that regulates the public sector's relationship with the media.
However, they expressed dismay on the government's decision to open the door for journalists to work in public sector as media advisers, saying that it contradicts the journalists' code of conduct and represents a conflict of interest.
The Cabinet on Tuesday endorsed a seven-point code of conduct that regulates the government's relationship with local media outlets. Those included that ministries, municipalities and public institutions can appoint journalists when needed but have first to gain the approval of the Cabinet which determines salaries and cash and in-kind gifts according to government pay scale and incentives.
Under the previous code, which was adopted in December 2009, the government was not supposed to appoint any journalist or media employee to any public position, including a spokesperson or media consultant, or pay temporary or permanent allowances for journalistic services.
Journalists who were already in positions with public agencies had to choose between their jobs with their media employers or with the government.
Also under the new code, the government is committed to taking all necessary measures to ensure the freedom and the independence of media outlets and will prevent all forms of ill-practices that aim at appeasing one party at the expense of another as a result of fear or seeking gains.
But Al Arab Alyawm's Editor-in-Chief Fahd Kheitan told The Jordan Times yesterday that press freedom and freedom of expression are two rights guaranteed by the Constitution and relevant legislation.
"Respect for press freedom and freedom of expression is obtained by default and must not be perceived as a grant from authorities to the media sector. However, considering successive governments' behaviour with media practitioners, we welcome any step that boosts press freedom and enables journalists to do their work free of pressure from whomsoever," Kheitan said.
He stressed that journalists must be neutral and unbiased when reporting, adding that working for a public or private institution could weaken their credibility.
With regards to government subscriptions to newspapers, Kheitan said the government must ensure that this particular point will not be used as a means to undermine the freedom and independence of the press, adding, however, that in many countries, the media industry is supported by the local government without any interference in their job.
"The media has a social and cultural role in spreading knowledge among the citizens including public sector employees. The government has to draw specific guidelines to be followed by all public institutions with regards to subscriptions to newspapers," he added.
Mohammad Tal, Ad Dustour editor-in-chief, agreed with Kheitan, adding that the previous code of conduct added more constraints on the media that made press freedom a victim.
"When it was endorsed by the former government they tried to convince us that it meant to rectify flaws in the relationship between the media and the government while in fact it was taken out of context and was used to put pressure on journalists who criticised the government," Tal told The Jordan Times yesterday.
Meanwhile, Minister of State for Media Affairs and Communications Taher Odwan, at a meeting with members of the media at the Jordan Press Association (JPA), highlighted the importance of partnership between the public and private media sectors and the necessity of boosting press freedom and developing the media sector in general to become a professional and responsible industry capable of tackling local and international news with utmost professionalism.
During the meeting, which brought together JPA President Abdulwahab Zgheilat and members of the JPA Council with the members of the media strategy committee, participants discussed main guidelines that are needed to be included in the strategy, which was called for by His Majesty King Abdullah to be ready by May 20 and will be adopted for the next five years.
"We are against dictation. Hence the strategy has to avoid traditional means and flowery language and must be practical and objective with a clear goal in essence," Odwan said, adding that the JPA has an important role in developing the sector and in protecting journalists' rights to have access to information and work freely.
Zgheilat, for his part, underlined the importance of amending the governing legislation to meet the requirement of the profession, commending the government decision to amend the code of conduct, which he said had brought about negative repercussions to the whole industry.
© Jordan Times 2011
