09 January 2003
AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Wednesday instructed the revamped Higher Media Council (HMC) to set up a new media system that serves development and national goals, and truly represents the country's aspirations and identity.
“The Jordanian media sector should be a regional model of responsibility and keenness for the welfare of the country and its citizens,” the Jordan News Agency, Petra, quoted the King as saying.
King Abdullah said the council shoulders the great responsibility of developing the country's media platform at a highly crucial time in the history of the region.
“We will not allow regional circumstances to block the course we have drawn to develop our country and achieve a free, modern and independent Jordan,” the King said.
In his hour-long meeting with HMC members, the Monarch presented a document outlining his media vision for Jordan and instructed the council to work immediately to enact it.
He described media as a powerful tool to develop the recently launched “Jordan First” campaign.
According to the 10-page document, establishing a new media system should be based on pluralism and respect for the other view in a free, creative and responsible manner.
It should also reflect the views and aspirations of society's various sectors.
The document said the new system cannot be achieved unless it is coupled with a media sector that is administratively independent and allowed to exercise its decisions freely and in a professional and responsible manner.
The King instructed the council, most of whose members represent a mix of independent and state media institutions, to work on a code of ethics for the profession, provide journalists with the required training and to revisit press and media-related legislation with a view towards modernisation.
“Greater freedoms, professionalism, the proper training, increased investments in the media sector were major issues called for by His Majesty King Abdullah,” HMC President Ibrahim Izzeddine told The Jordan Times.
Izzeddine, a former deputy premier and minister of information, said the King emphasised that a higher ceiling of press freedoms be granted to the media which is then expected to exercise such liberties professionally.
He said the council will work as a coordinator between the government, the press and civil society.
“Our work is a combination of think tank and an ombudsman. Any ombudsman would be a mediator between the three sides and be credible. This, however, cannot be accepted if HMC maintains executive powers,” Izzeddine said.
The HMC was set up in October 2001 to replace the Ministry of Information as part of slated social and economic reforms. It, however, was incapable of creating a new media policy providing a means for scrapping the decades-old ministry.
The King had decided to eliminate the ministry to help advance the country's democratic process and regulate the profession. HMC's weakness, however, came from its clash with the government since its inception and eventually leading to its decay.
Following a five-month hiatus, the HMC was revamped and revived by a Royal Decree in December.
In his letter, the King said the new council would become a regulatory and reference body that would work to crystallise his media vision and turn it to reality.
“The whole vision has changed, the council will not replace the Ministry of Information or have executive authority,” Izzeddine said.
The document defined the council as a non-executive regulatory and reference commission which would help in charting a new media policy based on democracy, professionalism, and serve the Jordanian community.
According to the document, the role of media institutions entails shaping the country's internal and external image, arranging society's priorities and interests, guiding society by building a social culture based on knowledge, defending human rights and playing a monitoring role based on professionalism and credibility.
The council is expected to cooperate with the government by proposing legislation in support of these aims and attracting investments in the field of media.
AMMAN — His Majesty King Abdullah on Wednesday instructed the revamped Higher Media Council (HMC) to set up a new media system that serves development and national goals, and truly represents the country's aspirations and identity.
“The Jordanian media sector should be a regional model of responsibility and keenness for the welfare of the country and its citizens,” the Jordan News Agency, Petra, quoted the King as saying.
King Abdullah said the council shoulders the great responsibility of developing the country's media platform at a highly crucial time in the history of the region.
“We will not allow regional circumstances to block the course we have drawn to develop our country and achieve a free, modern and independent Jordan,” the King said.
In his hour-long meeting with HMC members, the Monarch presented a document outlining his media vision for Jordan and instructed the council to work immediately to enact it.
He described media as a powerful tool to develop the recently launched “Jordan First” campaign.
According to the 10-page document, establishing a new media system should be based on pluralism and respect for the other view in a free, creative and responsible manner.
It should also reflect the views and aspirations of society's various sectors.
The document said the new system cannot be achieved unless it is coupled with a media sector that is administratively independent and allowed to exercise its decisions freely and in a professional and responsible manner.
The King instructed the council, most of whose members represent a mix of independent and state media institutions, to work on a code of ethics for the profession, provide journalists with the required training and to revisit press and media-related legislation with a view towards modernisation.
“Greater freedoms, professionalism, the proper training, increased investments in the media sector were major issues called for by His Majesty King Abdullah,” HMC President Ibrahim Izzeddine told The Jordan Times.
Izzeddine, a former deputy premier and minister of information, said the King emphasised that a higher ceiling of press freedoms be granted to the media which is then expected to exercise such liberties professionally.
He said the council will work as a coordinator between the government, the press and civil society.
“Our work is a combination of think tank and an ombudsman. Any ombudsman would be a mediator between the three sides and be credible. This, however, cannot be accepted if HMC maintains executive powers,” Izzeddine said.
The HMC was set up in October 2001 to replace the Ministry of Information as part of slated social and economic reforms. It, however, was incapable of creating a new media policy providing a means for scrapping the decades-old ministry.
The King had decided to eliminate the ministry to help advance the country's democratic process and regulate the profession. HMC's weakness, however, came from its clash with the government since its inception and eventually leading to its decay.
Following a five-month hiatus, the HMC was revamped and revived by a Royal Decree in December.
In his letter, the King said the new council would become a regulatory and reference body that would work to crystallise his media vision and turn it to reality.
“The whole vision has changed, the council will not replace the Ministry of Information or have executive authority,” Izzeddine said.
The document defined the council as a non-executive regulatory and reference commission which would help in charting a new media policy based on democracy, professionalism, and serve the Jordanian community.
According to the document, the role of media institutions entails shaping the country's internal and external image, arranging society's priorities and interests, guiding society by building a social culture based on knowledge, defending human rights and playing a monitoring role based on professionalism and credibility.
The council is expected to cooperate with the government by proposing legislation in support of these aims and attracting investments in the field of media.
By Alia Shukri Hamzeh
© Jordan Times 2003
