US embassy cable - 04AMMAN5674

C O N F I D E N T I A L SECTION 01 OF 03 AMMAN 005674 
 
SIPDIS 
 
E.O. 12958: DECL: 07/07/2009 
TAGS: PGOV, PHUM, JO 
SUBJECT: JORDANIAN CABINET SENDS MEDIA REFORM MEASURES TO 
PARLIAMENT 
 
 
Classified By: DCM DAVID M. HALE FOR REASONS 1.5(B)(D) 
 
1. (C)  SUMMARY:  THE JORDANIAN CABINET APPROVED JULY 6 THREE 
MEASURES AIMED AT LIBERALIZING PRINT AND BROADCAST MEDIA IN 
JORDAN.  DRAFT REFORMS INCLUDE THE ELIMINATION OF 
PRE-PUBLICATION REVIEW OF BOOKS; PROTECTION OF JOURNALISTS 
FROM DETENTION OR THE CLOSURE OF PUBLICATIONS WITHOUT A COURT 
ORDER; PROTECTION OF JOURNALISTS FROM REVEALING THEIR 
SOURCES; A REQUIREMENT THAT GOVERNMENT AGENCIES RESPOND TO 
MEDIA INQUIRIES WITHIN A MANDATED TIMEFRAME; AND THE 
REORGANIZATION OF THE GOVERNMENT OWNED RADIO AND TELEVISION 
COMPANY (JRTV) AND WIRE SERVICE (PETRA), INCLUDING THE 
FORMATION OF EDITORIALLY-INDEPENDENT BOARDS OF DIRECTORS. 
THE MEASURES WILL BE SUBMITTED TO THE PARLIAMENT FOR REVIEW 
DURING THE NEXT REGULAR SESSION, IN THE FALL.  COMBINED WITH 
EARLIER MEASURES TO ELIMINATE THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION AND 
TO ALLOW FOR PRIVATE RADIO AND TELEVISION BROADCASTING, THESE 
STEPS ARE BEING HERALDED BY GOJ OFFICIALS AS PROOF THE 
GOVERNMENT IS SERIOUS ABOUT MEDIA REFORM.  JOURNALISTS AND 
MEDIA OBSERVERS CONTACTED BY PA AMMAN PRAISE THE MEASURES AS 
FAR AS THEY GO, BUT SUSPECT A COMMERCIAL MOTIVATION AIMED AT 
ATTRACTING FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN THE MEDIA SECTOR AS MUCH AS 
A GENUINE COMMITMENT TO BUILD A FREE AND UNFETTERED PRESS. 
END SUMMARY. 
 
2. (U) THE PRIME MINISTRY ANNOUNCED JULY 6 CABINET APPROVAL 
OF THREE DRAFT LAWS RELATED TO MEDIA LIBERALIZATION.  THEY 
ARE THE 2004 DRAFT AMENDMENT TO THE PRESS AND PUBLICATIONS 
LAW; THE 2004 DRAFT AMENDMENT TO THE JORDAN RADIO AND 
TELEVISION (JRTV) CORPORATION LAW; AND THE 2004 DRAFT JORDAN 
NEWS AGENCY LAW.  THE MEASURES ARE PART OF A BROADER MEDIA 
REFORM PLAN ENVISIONED BY THE GOVERNMENT TO OPEN UP AND 
IMPROVE JORDAN'S MEDIA SECTOR, INCLUDING BY ENCOURAGING 
GREATER PRIVATE INVESTMENT.  A NUMBER OF POTENTIALLY 
SIGNIFICANT REFORM MEASURES ARE INCLUDED IN THE PACKAGE, 
THOUGH EVEN GOVERNMENT SOURCES ADMIT THEY ARE ONLY A PIECE OF 
WHAT WILL BE NECESSARY FOR THE EMERGENCE OF A VIBRANT MEDIA 
SECTOR IN JORDAN.  THE MEASURES WILL BE SUBMITTED FOR 
PARLIAMENTARY REVIEW DURING THE LOWER HOUSE'S NEXT REGULAR 
SESSION, SCHEDULED FOR THE FALL.  THE HOUSE IS CURRENTLY 
CONVENED IN EXTRAORDINARY SESSION TO ADDRESS A LINGERING 
BACKLOG OF LEGISLATION. 
 
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NO PRE-PUBLICATION REVIEW: A BOON TO PUBLISHERS? 
--------------------------------------------- --- 
 
3. (C) AMONG THE MORE INTERESTING MEASURES INCLUDED IN THE 
GOVERNMENT'S REFORM PACKAGE IS THE ELIMINATION OF 
PRE-PUBLICATION GOVERNMENT REVIEW FOR BOOK DRAFTS.  ARTICLE 
35 OF THE CURRENT PRESS AND PUBLICATIONS LAW REQUIRES THAT 
TWO COPIES OF ANY BOOK'S MANUSCRIPT BE SUBMITTED TO THE 
(FORMER) MINSITRY OF INFORMATION'S PRESS AND PUBLICATIONS 
DEPARTMENT AND THE APPROVAL OF THAT DEPARTMENT BEFORE A BOOK 
CAN BE PUBLISHED OR DISTRIBUTED.  THE AMENDMENT ALLOWS 
PUBLICATION WITHOUT PRIOR REVIEW, REQUIRING ONLY THAT THE 
AUTHOR OR PUBLISHER DEPOSIT A COPY WITH THE PRESS AND 
PUBLICATIONS DEPARTMENT, WHICH RESERVES THE RIGHT TO 
CONFISCATE OR WITHDRAW THE BOOK FROM DISTRIBUTION "IF THE 
DIRECTOR DISCOVERS THAT THE BOOK THAT IS PRINTED...CONTAINS 
MATERIAL THAT CONTRAVENES LEGISLATION IN FORCE."  THE CURRENT 
SYSTEM, COMMON THROUGHOUT THE ARAB WORLD, ACTS AS A DETERRENT 
TO AUTHORS, PUBLISHERS AND DISTRIBUTERS AND CONTRIBUTES TO A 
NOTORIOUSLY MORIBUND BOOK INDUSTRY IN JORDAN AND THE REGION. 
ONE AUTHOR TOLD IO SHE HAD RECENTLY COMPLETED A BOOK 
(ANALYZING NEW ARAB MEDIA) IN ENGLISH WHICH WAS APPROVED FOR 
PUBLICATION BY GOVERNMENT AUTHORITIES WITH RELATIVE EASE, BUT 
THAT SHE HAD DECIDED NOT TO REQUEST APPROVAL FOR AN ARABIC 
VERSION FOR FEAR OF IT BEING BANNED OR SIGNIFICANTLY 
CENSORED, AS HAD EARLIER BOOKS SHE WROTE ON PRESS FREEDOM IN 
JORDAN.  THIS CONTACT WAS HOPEFUL ABOUT THE NEW PROVISION AS 
AN INITIAL STEP IN FOSTERING A BETTER CLIMATE FOR JORDANIAN 
WRITERS -- AND READERS -- BUT NOTED THAT THE LANGUAGE IN THE 
DRAFT DOES NOT REDRESS EARLIER GOVERNMENT DECISIONS BANNING 
CERTAIN BOOKS AND AUTHORS. 
 
4. (U) OTHER PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE PRESS AND PUBLICATIONS 
LAW INCLUDE A BAN ON GOVERNMENT DETENTION OF JOURNALISTS OR 
CLOSURE OF PUBLICATIONS WITHOUT A COURT ORDER; ANOTHER CHANGE 
PROTECTS JOURNALISTS FROM REVEALING SOURCES.  CURRENTLY, 
JOURNALISTS AND THEIR PUBLICATIONS ARE SUBJECT TO PROVISIONS 
OF THE PENAL CODE THAT MAKE IT A CRIME TO WRITE OR SPEAK OUT 
ABOUT CERTAIN SUBJECTS, INCLUDING INSULTING MEMBERS OF THE 
ROYAL FAMILY OR "HARMING THE REPUTATION" OF JORDAN OR ITS 
RELATIONS WITH "FRIENDLY STATES."  THESE PROVISIONS WERE 
INVOKED RECENTLY BY SECURITY AGENCIES TO ARREST THE 
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF OF "AL MAJD" WEEKLY NEWSPAPER -- AND SUSPEND 
PUBLICATION -- FOR AN ARTICLE HE WROTE CRITICAL OF SAUDI 
ARABIA'S LEADERSHIP AT A TIME WHEN THE GOJ WAS ENGAGED IN 
NEGOTIATIONS TO EXTEND AN OIL-GRANT AGREEMENT.  SUBSEQUENTLY, 
THE EDITOR WAS RELEASED FROM PRISON ON THE CONDITION HE 
APOLOGIZE IN PRINT AND WRITE AN ARTICLE IN PRAISE OF THE 
SAUDIS.  THE EDITOR DID SO IN THE MAY 17 ISSUE, WHICH HE 
ANNOUNCED IN THE BANNER WOULD BE THE PAPER'S LAST.  FINALLY, 
THE DRAFT AMENDMENT INCLUDES A REQUIREMENT THAT GOVERNMENT 
AGENCIES RESPOND TO REPORTERS' INQUIRIES WITHIN A SPECIFIED 
TIMEFRAME -- 24 HOURS FOR INQUIRIES OF A "TIMELY" NATURE, TWO 
WEEKS FOR THOSE NOT. 
 
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EDITORIAL LEEWAY FOR JTV AND PETRA 
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5. (C) THE CABINET APPROVED AMENDMENTS TO THE LAWS GOVERNING 
THE STATE-OWNED TELEVISION (JTV) AND WIRE SERVICE (PETRA) 
THAT MANDATE THE ESTABLISHMENT OF INDEPENDENT EDITORIAL 
BOARDS FOR EACH INSTITUTION.  BOTH MEASURES ARE INTENDED TO 
IMPROVE THE QUALITY AND CREDIBILITY OF THE GOVERNMENT'S TWO 
MAIN VEHICLES FOR COMMUNICATING WITH THE PUBLIC.  JTV, IN 
PARTICULAR, IS SEEN AS A CRITICAL FAILURE, WITH JORDANIAN 
AUDIENCES ABANDONING THE NETWORK'S TIRED AND FORMULAIC 
PRESENTATION TO GET THEIR NEWS FROM HIGHER QUALITY SATELLITE 
CHANNELS WHOSE EDITORIAL BIAS IS FEARED BY JORDAN'S LEADERS 
AS POTENTIALLY BUILDING RADICALISM AMONG THE JORDANIAN 
PUBLIC.  THE GOJ HAS ALREADY ACTED WITH REGARD TO JTV, 
APPOINTING MUSTAPHA HAMARNEH, A PROMINENT AND OUTSPOKEN 
REFORMER (CURRENTLY DIRECTOR OF THE JORDAN CENTER FOR 
STRATEGIC STUDIES), AS THE DIRECTOR OF THE NEW BOARD. 
HAMARNEH HAS TOLD EMBOFFS HE WOULD LIKE JTV TO SHINE MORE 
LIGHT ON SENSITIVE AND CONTROVERSIAL SUBJECTS IN JORDAN IN AN 
EFFORT TO BUILD CREDIBILITY AND REGAIN AUDIENCE.  WHETHER HE 
AND THE NEW BOARD CAN CHANGE A CULTURE AT JTV THAT -- AT 
LEAST IN ITS NEWS REPORTS -- PUTS THE KING'S DOINGS FIRST, 
THE PRIME MINISTER SECOND, OTHER MINISTERS THIRD AND ALL 
OTHER ITEMS OF INTEREST LAST (TIME PERMITTING), REMAINS TO BE 
SEEN. 
 
6. (C) A SIMILAR BOARD IS ENVISIONED FOR PETRA, THE 
GOVERNMENT-OWNED WIRE SERVICE, WHICH CURRENTLY ACTS AS THE 
GOVERNMENT'S PRINT MOUTHPIECE.  IO IS AWARE OF EARLIER 
DISCUSSIONS WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT OF ELIMINATING OR 
PRIVATIZING PETRA RATHER THAN REFORMING IT, BUT THE PRESSURE 
WITHIN THE GOVERNMENT TO HANG ON TO A SERVICE THAT 
ESSSENTIALLY ISSUES GOVERNMENT PRESS RELEASES APPEARS TO HAVE 
WON OUT.  PETRA STORIES ARE RARELY PICKED UP BY INTERNATIONAL 
NEWS SERVICES, AND GIVEN THE PRESENCE IN JORDAN OF REUTERS, 
AFP AND AP (ALL OF WHICH WRITE IN ARABIC AND ENGLISH) AS WELL 
AS THREE DAILIES IN AN OVERCROWDED PRINT MARKET, MANY IN 
JORDAN'S MEDIA SECTOR -- INCLUDING A FORMER MINISTER OF 
INFORMATION IN A CONVERSATION WITH IO -- ADVOCATED 
ELIMINATING THE SERVICE, AN ACT THAT WOULD REQUIRE THE 
GOVERNMENT TO COMPETE FOR NEWS COVERAGE AND THEREBY WORK 
HARDER TO EXPLAIN ITS PROGRAMS AND POLICIES TO THE PUBLIC. 
 
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COMMENT 
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7. (C) THE REFORM PACKAGE ADOPTED BY THE GOVERNMENT IS BEING 
BILLED AS JUST ONE PIECE IN A BROADER PROCESS TO INVIGORATE 
JORDAN'S MEDIA SECTOR.  COMBINED WITH THE EARLIER ELIMINATION 
OF THE MINISTRY OF INFORMATION (WITH ITS CORE 
RESPONSIBILITIES PRESERVED IN THE NEWLY-FORMED "JORDAN 
INFORMATION CENTER") AND PASSAGE OF AN  AUDIO/VISUAL LAW THAT 
ALLOWS FOR THE FIRST TIME LICENSING OF PRIVATE RADIO AND 
TELEVISION BROADCASTERS, THE GOVERNMENT BELIEVES IT HAS 
UNDERTAKEN SIGNIFICANT STEPS TOWARDS ITS GOAL.  HOWEVER, A 
CENTRAL MOTIVATION OF THESE EFFORTS APPEARS TO BE A DESIRE TO 
ATTRACT FOREIGN INVESTMENT IN THE MEDIA SECTOR BY MAKING 
JORDAN A VIABLE HOST FOR SATELLITE TV BROADCASTING AND 
REGIONAL PUBLISHING BUSINESS.  OVERALL, THE EFFORT IS CLEARLY 
AIMED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, BUT SO FAR THE GOVERNMENT SHOWS 
NO REAL INCLINATION TO STEP SIGNIFICANTLY BACK FROM FREQUENT 
INTERVENTION IN THE PRESS (REF THE RECENT INCIDENT INVOLVING 
AL MAJD WEEKLY MENTIONED ABOVE), OR TO LIFT KEY LEGAL 
RESTRICTIONS ON SPEECH THAT LIMIT THE MEDIA'S EFFECTIVENESS 
IN ADDRESSING CONCERNS AMONG THE PUBLIC (E.G., CORRUPTION). 
GNEHM