Amman, June 8 (Petra) – House Speaker Mazen Qadi affirmed that the Jordanian press has long been a fundamental partner in the national development process, contributing to the delivery of Jordan's positions and issues to the public with professionalism and responsibility.
Qadi's remarks came during a meeting held Monday by the Parliamentary Committee on National Guidance, Media and Culture, chaired by MP Hussein Amoush, to discuss the state of print journalism and the challenges facing the sector.
The meeting was attended by Minister of Government Communication Mohammad Momani, Editor-in-Chief of Al Dustour newspaper Yanal Barmawi, and the general managers of Al Rai, Al Dustour and Al Ghad newspapers.
Qadi said His Majesty King Abdullah II places great importance on national media and consistently stresses the need to support and empower it to fulfill its mission.
He added that the press's oversight role is one of the pillars of the modern state, noting that public institutions and officials must remain subject to evaluation and accountability to strengthen transparency and safeguard the national interest.
Amoush, in turn, said the committee convened the meeting to assess the situation of daily newspapers and identify the most pressing challenges facing the sector, particularly financial and administrative issues.
He called for developing practical and sustainable solutions that would strengthen media institutions and enable them to continue performing their national role.
He added that journalists serve as a frontline channel for conveying Jordanians' concerns to decision-makers, making it essential to address media-sector challenges through a long-term strategic approach that takes into account rapid changes in the global media landscape.
Committee members Jihad Abawi, Firas Qablan, Ahmed Hmeisat, Raed Qatamin, Mohammad Sabaileh, Ibrahim Tarawneh, Mohammad Roud, Abdul Rahman Awaisha and Ali Ghazawi called for coordinated official and institutional efforts to address the crisis facing the press sector.
They said the national press is engaged in a critical battle for public awareness and continues to play a central role in strengthening national identity, promoting belonging and countering rumors and misinformation.
Momani described the press as a responsible watchdog and a key partner in shaping public opinion, analysing events and interpreting local, regional and international developments.
He said journalists and media professionals are partners in protecting the homefront and strengthening national resilience.
He said that the government is committed to the independence of media institutions, emphasising that its role is to provide a supportive environment, modernise media tools and enhance the sector's ability to carry out its mission.
He expressed the ministry's readiness to consider proposals that would help newspapers overcome challenges.
Momani said newspapers would continue to serve as a pillar of the state, a guardian of national awareness and a trusted source of information. He paid tribute to the Jordan Armed Forces and security agencies for their role in safeguarding the nation's security, sovereignty and interests.
Yanal Barmawi, Editor-in-Chief of Al Dustour, said Jordanian journalism has entered a phase of recovery, although it has yet to achieve full stability.
He said that print newspapers remain a national necessity rather than a media luxury, arguing that support for the sector is an investment in preserving national awareness and protecting the national narrative against misinformation and rumour campaigns.
He noted that national newspapers continue to play a vital role, particularly during crises and in confronting attempts to undermine Jordan's interests, including during the recent regional conflict.
Hassan Jazazi, General Manager of Al Rai, reviewed the newspaper's digital transformation efforts, saying the institution's strategy focuses on strengthening its digital presence while maintaining its print edition.
He noted that Al Rai operates 14 social media platforms, advanced production studios and produces content in both Arabic and English.
Jazazi highlighted the development of technologies that convert written content into audio formats, while noting that declining government and municipal advertising remains one of the sector's most significant challenges.
Al Dustour General Manager Ghassan Shaalan said the newspaper had recorded operating profits over the past three years and succeeded in paying off nearly half of its debts.
He said, nonetheless, the decline in government and municipal advertising continues to threaten the sustainability of journalistic operations.
Shaalan added that Al Dustour had lifted all outstanding financial liens through settlements with creditors, reducing its debt burden and allowing the institution to resume commercial operations in several traditional revenue streams, particularly commercial printing services.
Bilal Sabah, General Manager of Al Ghad, reviewed the major challenges facing the newspaper industry, including rising production, printing and distribution costs, limited financial resources and tax and customs burdens on production inputs.
//Petra// AK
