Journalists warn of using reprehensible actions of some media practitioners to justify more restrictions

AMMAN — With the government saying that the image of journalism has been harmed by the irresponsible actions of a few, media practitioners warned of using these claims to justify further restrictions of media freedoms.

Speaking at a session earlier this week in the presence of journalists and lawyers, Minister of State for Media Affairs and Communications Mohammad Momani said "intruders" in the profession have harmed its image and legacy in the country.

There are many cases of violations because of these "intruders", the minister said on Monday.

Commenting on the issue on Tuesday, Basel Okour, chief editor of jo24.net, disagreed.

"The government is using the pretext that there are intruders in the profession to restrict media freedoms,” he charged.

"Even if there are some intruders, which is the case in all professions, that does not make it okay for the government to impose collective punishment on media outlets," Okour said over the phone.

"The number of journalists going to jail and sued is on the rise in Jordan due to repeated government interference,” he charged.

Speaking during the Monday session, Jordan Press Association (JPA) President Tareq Momani said there were 112 cases against journalists in 2015 in civil and military courts.

Eight journalists were detained, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, quoted the JPA president as saying. 

He added that there was a rise in the number of cases filed against journalists in 2015, attributing it to some amendments to legislation governing the media sector.

"Unfortunately, there are many intruders in the profession who have nothing to do with journalism, but they managed to start some news websites and resort to practices far from being professional in the field,” Mohammad Hawamdeh, chief editor of Khaberni.com news website, told The Jordan Times on Tuesday.

"Because of those intruders, we have started to witness cases of blackmail, character assassination and many unprofessional practices,” Hawamdeh argued.

Since the Press and Publications Law stipulates that the chief editor of a website should be a member of the JPA, some journalists agree to assume this post in return for an amount of money from the owners of the website and they have no role in monitoring the content or ensuring that it is professional. 

“These journalists who accept this situation are also to blame,” Hawamdeh said