Amman, June 21 (Petra) The Jordan Press Association (JPA) has endorsed its 2025–2028 action plan, based on recommendations from a recently formed committee tasked with assessing the current state of the association, according to a statement issued on Saturday.

The decision was made during a session chaired by JPA President Tareq Momani, following a month-long review by a committee comprising Vice President Awni Daoud, Secretary Sami Harbi, Treasurer Mohammad Zyoud, and board member Khetam Shoubaki. The committee examined the association’s financial, administrative, legislative, and organizational status as of April 25, 2025, and presented recommendations that now form the core of the new action plan.

The report highlighted the JPA’s financial position, detailing the status of its funds, outstanding dues from media institutions, and obligations related to the cooperation, health insurance, and housing funds.

It also flagged several issues within the JPA’s legal and regulatory framework, including the association’s bylaws, the cooperation fund system, the housing fund system, and challenges facing digital media outlets, radio and television stations, as well as broader legislative issues such as the Cybercrime Law and the Civil Companies Law.

The committee noted the absence of active investment projects except for the advertising office at the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Supply’s Companies Control Department and included proposals from the investment committee, along with a detailed roadmap for future priorities.

The report cited several shortcomings, such as weak communication between the JPA and its members, a poor digital presence, and limited engagement with regional and international journalism organizations. It also pointed to the deteriorating condition of the JPA’s headquarters and the need for urgent maintenance and upgrades.

Priority areas for the council include reforming the union’s health insurance scheme, addressing administrative inefficiencies, and proposing new initiatives to strengthen the association’s branches and encourage greater engagement from its members.

Key pillars of the 2025–2028 action plan include financial and administrative reforms. These encompass modernizing financial management systems, adopting technologies such as electronic billing, boosting revenue collection, settling outstanding balances with media organizations, reassessing and upgrading newspaper kiosks to generate higher income, and launching new investment ventures.

The plan also calls for establishing committees to revise the union’s bylaws, protect the journalism profession, and review the housing fund system in line with recommendations from the general assembly. It proposes legislative reform in cooperation with relevant authorities.

The union aims to invest in its land assets in Ghabawi, Zarqa, Tabrbour, and other areas. It also seeks to develop its advertising office and explore joint investment projects with media institutions, in addition to generating revenue through the union’s clubs, events, exhibitions, and partnerships with major firms such as banks, chambers of commerce and industry, and universities.

The program outlines plans to upgrade the JPA’s website and social media platforms, update membership data, compile a list of expatriate journalists and establish contact with them, and strengthen ties with regional and global press unions to restore the association’s international standing.

On improving journalists’ livelihoods, the plan includes advocating for higher professional allowances, a fair wage scale, increased minimum wages for journalists, improved health insurance coverage for journalists and their families, more university scholarships, and education discounts for journalists’ children.

New initiatives include launching a forum for sports journalists and another for photojournalists, organizing an annual media conference, creating a digital unit within the JPA, reviving the annual press freedom report, and hosting an annual Ramadan iftar for members. It also includes reactivating committees, creating new ones, and expanding the union’s presence in the governorates by opening new branches and clubs.

//Petra// AF
21/06/2025 20:01:39