The «Arab Spring» has had a significant impact on the media landscape of many Arab countries, including Jordan – today the media there operate under state control. Thanks to the study by Russian specialists from RUDN University and MGIMO “The Place of Media and Social Resources in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan”, it is possible to trace the control measures taken by the authorities, simultaneously creating a basic map of the Jordanian media.
In addition to the Kingdom's Constitution, which guarantees freedom of speech, press and broadcasting, there is the Press Law of 1998. According to Article 5 of this law, publications in the media, as well as personal information in the media space, "must respect the truth and refrain from contradicting the principles of freedom, national responsibility, human rights and the values of the Arab and Islamic nation."
The first Jordanian publication was the newspaper Al Dustur (Constitution), founded in 1967. Large and main print publications today: Al Ra'i (Opinion), Al Ghad (Tomorrow) and The Jordan Times, also have electronic versions. As of 2023, the Arabic editions of CNN and BBC were popular, as well as France24 and Deutsche Welle. Jordan attaches great importance to the study of foreign languages, primarily English, which contributes to the spread of foreign media along with Arabic and local news agencies.
The first radio stations in Jordan appeared in 1959, and official television broadcasting began on April 27, 1968. The authority of television was strengthened by the speeches of King Hussein, who directly addressed the people and discussed key issues of state policy. Russian researchers Baruka Bibars and Evgeny Akhmadulin in their work “Features of the Development of Jordanian TV” note that television broadcasting here continues to develop as a government structure financed by the state.
Today, Jordan has four major television channels broadcasting in Arabic and English: JordanTV, Al Ghad TV, Ro'ya TV, and Al Mamlaka. They cover the entire country and broadcast not only news but also educational and cultural programs. International information resources are also available: Al Jazeera, Al Arabia, CNN Arabic and BBC Arabic.
Social networks and Internet resources, as well as some media outlets that actively covered the events, became the main mouthpiece of protest actions during the "Arab Spring". In connection with this, more than a hundred websites were blocked in Jordan in 2013-14. In 2012, amendments to the Press Law came into force, restricting publications on the Internet and prohibiting materials that incite interethnic and interfaith hatred.
The amendments also tightened the rules on covering the activities of the government, the state system, and the royal family. In 2014, a law was passed on countering extremism, prohibiting any negative coverage of state policy in the media.
At the same time, Jordanians remain active users of social networks. According to Data.ai, the following were popular in 2023-24: Facebook and Instagram, which are banned in Russia; also, Snapchat and TikTok; WhatsApp messenger; video hosting services YouTube, Shahid, Netflix; music services Anghami, Spotify; food delivery app Talabat and taxi Careem, Uber; local services like OpenSooq (announcements) and Khaberni (news).
Despite the tight control of the media space, especially after the "Arab Spring", Jordan is trying to develop this sphere. In 2007, Her Royal Highness Princess Reem Ali founded the Jordan Media Institute. The princess herself has been working in journalism since the late 90s: she started as a producer on foreign channels, and during the Iraqi crisis of 2001-2004 she was a correspondent in Baghdad.
The opening of the Institute of Journalism in Jordan is a step towards training professionals who not only know the laws, but also understand the intricacies of the Middle East and the Muslim world. Today, in the era of instant dissemination of information, it is important to be able to work with content competently and consciously.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: Dimitris Vetsikas\Pixabay