Amman, May 16 (Petra) -- Minister of Government Communication Mohammad Momani stressed the need to strike a careful balance between the speed of information delivery and its accuracy, describing access to reliable information as a fundamental right of the public.

Speaking at a session titled "Real-time media: How do we shape the mission in a content-saturated world?" held as part of the Tawasol 2026 Forum, which opened on Saturday.

Momani, who is also the government spokesperson, said the government seeks to provide the public with information as quickly as possible while avoiding the pitfalls of haste that could lead to the release of inaccurate information.

Momani said the government responds to unfolding events even when information remains incomplete by issuing messages through official media channels to inform the public that the relevant authorities are following developments and that additional details will be released as they become available.

He explained that the government's communications response begins with monitoring a report or event, followed by an assessment of the scale of a rumor's spread, its potential harm and influence, and the nature of the content involved.

Based on that assessment, coordination takes place among the relevant institutions and state media tools, including official and other media outlets, to determine the most appropriate response strategy.

In some cases, he said, it may be preferable not to respond to a rumor to prevent it from gaining wider attention.

Momani said responses may take different forms, including indirect clarification; publication through newspapers or official media institutions; statements by the government spokesperson; or, in some cases, direct comments by the prime minister, depending on the scope and impact of the rumor.

He said that once a rumor is detected, officials immediately contact the relevant institution to establish the facts and determine the most suitable course of action.

Momani described this approach as a core component of communications readiness, beginning with monitoring and warning about the content and spread of a rumor, followed by a decision on whether to respond directly, downplay the issue or release verified information as quickly as possible without sacrificing accuracy.

He said timing is a critical factor in assessing the public situation, noting that information may sometimes be available within 10 minutes, while in other cases political or international considerations may delay disclosure and require a careful balance between speed and precision.

On Artificial Intelligence, Momani said the state views it as an opportunity to improve performance across many sectors while acknowledging challenges that need to be addressed.

He pointed to the need to regulate digital media in the age of artificial intelligence and to clearly identify content produced using the technology.

"We are still in a phase that requires legal and legislative action and the development of ethical charters, especially as we move toward a stage in which artificial intelligence is driven by artificial intelligence," he said.

Momani added that the government is working to strengthen media and information literacy and to build public awareness of how to engage responsibly with artificial intelligence.

Abdul Rahman Al-Husami, an expert in strategic communication and public opinion analysis, said that based on four years of monitoring Jordanian public opinion on social media, authorities can contain a rumor and significantly reduce engagement with it if they intervene within the first 90 minutes.

He said that if 24 hours pass, interaction with a rumor can rise to as much as 75%.

Al-Husami said recent regional conflicts have generated numerous rumors affecting Jordan and noted that 62% of rumors during the latest war originated from international social media platforms, 15% from regional media, and the remainder from local sources.

He said decisions on whether to respond to domestically generated rumors depend on their spread and impact and on whether a response is likely to contain or amplify them.

Al-Husami cautioned that digital measurements are not always fully precise but said allowing rumors to circulate unchecked leads to broader dissemination.

He urged journalists to present information with great accuracy, follow a clear sequence in reporting, and assess data and engagement levels to avoid inadvertently helping rumors spread.

Ghazieh Hijazi, a policy expert in the Arab region, stressed the importance of understanding target audiences when crafting official messages.

Citing data showing that 95% of Jordanians use the internet and 97% own smartphones in their homes, she said nearly everyone is connected around the clock amid a constant flow of information.

Hijazi called for reliance on academic and scientific research to identify target audiences and warned of the physical and psychological risks associated with excessive use of social media.

She said prolonged screen exposure can reduce concentration and contribute to thinning of the cerebral cortex.

Hijazi noted that while the global average use of such devices is about two hours and 20 minutes a day, many people locally exceed six hours because they rely on them for studying and accessing information.

She warned that overuse could contribute to early cognitive decline among adolescents and threaten the mental health of young people.

Hijazi linked the rise of social media since 2010 to increases in anxiety, depression, suicide and other health problems, citing studies showing that 69% of social media users in Arab countries experience anxiety related to its use and 61% report direct effects on their health.

Dana Shuqom, chief executive officer of the Jordan Media Institute, said the institute serves as both a destination and source for the credibility of Jordanian media.

She highlighted the role of the Jordan Media Observatory in tracking rumors and misinformation on a daily basis and issuing periodic reports available to all media outlets.

Shuqom said the observatory detected around 200 rumors last month, half of which originated outside Jordan and were driven by parties with misleading intentions.

She said the institute trains journalists to assess information in the field, verify facts accurately and use technical tools to confirm information before publication or broadcast.

The institute also provides specialized courses for students and trainees on fact-checking and trains media spokespersons to deliver accurate and timely information.

Shuqom said the institute is currently focusing on raising public awareness that audiences are targeted by rumors and share responsibility for verifying information before circulating it and assessing whether it contains misinformation or hate speech.

She said the institute has been tasked with drafting a national media and information literacy strategy that will include the use of the arts to promote access to reliable information and the development of media content accessible to persons with disabilities.

Shuqom said the institute remains committed to producing media content free of misinformation that reinforces the values of media and information literacy and helps people benefit from accurate information online and offline.

//Petra// AF