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

09/09/2026 21:58:17