UNESCO publishes a comprehensive analysis of media landscape in Jordan
Pictured at the launch of the Jordan study: Dr Mohammad Al-Momani, Minister of State for Media Affairs (centre), and the local research team (L-R), Yahia Shukkeir, Sawsan Zaideh, Dina Baslan and May Shalabieh. © UNESCO
On Tuesday, 8 September, UNESCO launched an in-depth assessment of the media landscape in Jordan. The analysis is based on the UNESCO Media Development Indicators (MDI) and was conducted as part of the Support to Media in Jordan Project, funded by the European Union (EU). The well-attended launching event brought together media stakeholders, the Minister of State for Media Affairs, the international community and civil society.
“This is one of our best studies and we are pleased to present it to Jordanian stakeholders as a contribution to the further development of media as a key step towards becoming a knowledge society,” said Guy Berger, Director of the Division of Freedom of Expression and Media Development at UNESCO Headquarters in Paris, during the event. The assessment for Jordan gives a series of recommendations aimed at helping policy makers and media development actors to address gaps on the way to a free, independent and professional media environment – the core objectives of the Support to Media in Jordan project.
Mr Ibrahim Laafia, First Counsellor of the EU Delegation to Jordan stressed that “The EU is glad to see the internationally recognized MDI tool further expanded within the MENA region and to Jordan in particular. In partnership with UNESCO, the EU remains committed to supporting the Government of Jordan and the media sector for implementing the recommendations made by the study in order to build the capacities for an independent, quality based media sector serving the entire Jordanian population”.
Next to Tunisia, Egypt, Libya and Palestine, Jordan is the fifth Arab country for which the MDI assessment has been made. The MDI study for Jordan was implemented in partnership with International Media Support (IMS), an international media development organization that has been involved in several MDI assessments worldwide.
“Jordan continues to move strongly in the right direction towards advancing freedom of the press. My presence here is a testimony that Jordan engages international assessments of freedom of the press with the spirit of consolidating media freedom that we consider an important pillar of our national security. We work closely with all stakeholders to find the best policies that will help Jordan enjoy independent, professional and free media.” stated HE Dr. Mohammad Al-Momani, Minister of State for Media Affairs.
The MDI for Jordan gives input to the ongoing review of the national media strategy action plan, and to the design of activities for Phase II of the Support to Media in Jordan project. The assessment is available for download here.
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