Amman, Sept. 9 (Petra) — Secretary-General of the Ministry of
Government Communication Zaid Al-Nawaisah said the media and
information environment is undergoing rapid transformations, with the
challenge no longer being access to information but rather the
ability to distinguish it, understand its context, and verify its
accuracy, particularly during times of crisis.

Speaking at a panel discussion titled “Professional Media in the Era
of Crises and Media Literacy,” organized by the Cultural Committee of
the Jordan Press Association (JPA) on Wednesday, Al-Nawaisah said
demand for information increases during crises, coinciding with the
rapid spread of rumors and inaccurate or fragmented information. This
makes information part of crisis management rather than an issue to
be addressed after an event occurs.

He underscored the importance of professional media amid the
proliferation of platforms and sources, saying the value of
journalism lies in verifying and scrutinizing information and
presenting it within its proper context. Providing accurate and clear
information promptly, he said, is a shared responsibility between
professional media and the government.

Al-Nawaisah said the Ministry of Government Communication seeks to
maintain a proactive presence rather than merely responding to events
after they occur. It monitors issues of concern to citizens,
anticipates their questions, answers them, and provides accurate and
reliable information promptly.

He noted that citizens are no longer merely recipients of information
but have also become its publishers, highlighting the importance of
media and information literacy based on verifying sources and
context, comparing information, and checking its accuracy before
sharing it.

He said the ministry does not view media literacy as a campaign to
counter rumors but rather as a national project to build awareness,
critical thinking, and societal resilience. This is the approach
underpinning the second National Strategy for Promoting Media and
Information Literacy 2026-2029.

Hassan Al-Momani, director of the Center for Strategic Studies at the
University of Jordan, said media has become one of the most important
actors in politics and international relations, with its role no
longer limited to reporting events but extending to influencing
positions and shaping the international image of states.

He said professional media represents one of the sources of a state’s
soft power and can help convey its perspective to the outside world,
stressing the importance of having media capable of competing and
exerting influence in the international environment.

He noted that international crises and conflicts affect the media,
while the media also influences the course of conflicts, placing a
professional, social, and political responsibility on media
organizations when covering events, particularly major humanitarian
issues.

Legal expert and lawyer Mohammad Qteishat said political, security,
economic, and health crises, coupled with the digital explosion of
social media platforms, have brought about a structural
transformation in the media environment and turned every social media
user into a potential news carrier.

He said this reality places professional journalists before a
delicate equation in which the requirement is no longer simply to
report events quickly but to adhere to legal and ethical verification
standards, given the direct impact of publishing on society,
coexistence, social peace, national security, and public trust in
institutions.

Qteishat said Jordanian legislation has established journalists’
rights while also setting out the responsibilities arising from
publication. Relevant laws, he said, allow journalists to criticize
and express opinions on the performance of institutions and
individuals and on public service within legal frameworks.

He stressed that the key challenge during crises is balancing the
speed of publication with the duty to verify information, emphasizing
that time constraints or good intentions do not, in themselves,
constitute grounds for exemption from legal liability when
publication causes harm or constitutes a violation.

He also pointed to other challenges related to republication and
sharing of content, source protection, and rules governing media
coverage during emergencies, including respecting privacy and the
dignity of victims and avoiding obstruction of rescue and
crisis-response operations.

He stressed the importance of balancing freedom of opinion and
expression with efforts to combat disinformation, saying restrictions
imposed during crises should be prescribed by law, linked to
legitimate objectives and proportionate to those objectives.

He warned against excessive self-censorship, which could lead
journalists to refrain from covering events and consequently leave
room for rumors and inaccurate information. He called for
strengthening journalists’ legal awareness as a key tool for
protecting media work.

He said journalists with stronger legal knowledge are better equipped
to perform their work professionally and courageously and to guard
against mistakes and legal risks that may arise from journalistic
work.

Faisal Basbous, moderator of the panel and head of the JPA Cultural
Committee, said the discussion strengthens the role of professional
media in addressing the challenges of crises and disinformation amid
the speed with which information reaches the public and the
transformation of social media platforms into an integral part of
shaping public opinion.

He said distinguishing between accurate news and misleading
information and between opinion and fact has become more difficult
and complex, particularly during crises, when the responsibility of
professional media is magnified.

He said words spoken during crises are not merely news but can
contribute to calming society or increasing anxiety, strengthening or
undermining trust in institutions. This highlights the importance of
professional journalism based on accuracy, verification, balance,
responsibility, and respect for the public’s right to know.

Basbous stressed that media literacy has become a necessity for every
member of society because it provides tools for reading media content
consciously, understanding information sources, detecting
disinformation and rumors, and distinguishing between professional
content and content intended to influence or manipulate public
opinion.

He noted that the importance of the issue is growing amid challenges
associated with the rapid circulation of news, artificial
intelligence, fabricated content, and disinformation, as well as the
legal and professional responsibilities governing journalistic work.

The panel, attended and participated in by JPA President Tareq
Al-Momani, members of the association’s board and Cultural Committee,
and a number of journalists and media professionals, discussed the
state of professional media during crises, the importance of media
and information literacy, and the challenges posed by social media
platforms and artificial intelligence, as well as the legal and
ethical dimensions of media coverage under exceptional circumstances.

//Petra// AF