US embassy cable - 02AMMAN5966

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 AMMAN 005966 
 
SIPDIS 
 
STATE FOR NEA/ARN, NEA/PPD, IIP/T/GIC-GSTEELE, IIP/T/PS 
- TERRY SCOTT 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SCUL PROP JO 
SUBJECT: PROGRAM REQUEST: PROFESSIONALIZATION OF THE 
JORDANIAN MEDIA 
 
REF: AMMAN 07718 99, AMMAN 05986 00, AMMAN 07718  01 
 
1.   This is an action request for IIP.  See para 6 
 
2.   In view of the success to date of Embassy Amman's 
"Media Professionalization Program," which has had a 
visible impact on the quality of the work of a number 
of Jordanian journalists, Amman seeks the Department's 
assistance in continuing the program and developing a 
new series of workshops for FY 2003.  Proposed workshop 
topics are intended to raise the professional standard 
of Jordanian journalists and serve mission objectives 
by encouraging continued engagement with local media. 
 
3.   Justification: more than ten years into its 
declared process of democratization, Jordan has not yet 
resolved the classic dilemma: how to allow a greater 
degree of media freedom while maintaining control in an 
often unpredictable political environment.  During the 
past year alone the government enacted a new emergency 
amendment to the press and publications law, created 
then froze the Higher Media Council, and announced then 
abandoned plans to eliminate the Ministry Of 
Information. All this reflects the importance and 
timeliness of the issue of media freedom in Jordan. 
But real progress towards press freedom is only 
possible in the context of a skilled and responsible 
press.  Jordan's journalists suffer from low pay and 
poor command of English, which prevent them from 
accessing available resources for research and 
reporting, a lack of relevant training and education, 
and little to no experience of international standards 
of reporting. 
 
4.   PA Amman plans to conduct a series of three 
speaker/specialist programs, each lasting approximately 
3-4 days.  The workshops would take place during the 
period December 2002-April 2003.  The target audience 
is working mid-career or junior Jordanian journalists. 
American workshop leaders would be accomplished 
journalists with field experience rather than pure 
academics.  We have found it effective to locate high 
caliber specialists and use translation rather than 
rely on a limited pool of Arabic speaking specialists, 
though a qualified Arabic speaker would always be 
welcome. 
 
5.   Specific program topics: post would like to 
propose the following topics for the three programs. 
IIP project officer and post program officer can expand 
on the titles together via e-mail. 
 
--   Feature/ analytical writing. 
Mission objective: Promoting better analytical skills, 
and hence a more accurate and balanced presentation of 
U.S. policies. 
Skills: Learning the difference between analysis and 
opinion writing.  How to research a feature article, 
with emphasis on understanding the need for various 
viewpoints in developing an accurate picture of the 
subject matter.  The difference between writing a news 
report, an analytical article, and an opinion piece. 
Desired date: December 2002 
 
--   Credibility in reporting 
Mission objective: promoting higher professional 
standards in journalism. 
Skills: the need to check and double-check information, 
quoting sources accurately, respecting the difference 
between information given on the record, off the 
record, or on background, resisting the temptation to 
insert subjective opinion in a straight reporting piece 
when addressing questions to an interviewee. 
Desired date: February 2003 
 
--   Covering Elections. 
Mission objective: promoting democracy. 
Skills: polling, analyzing election issues, and 
analyzing candidates' and parties' election strategies. 
Note:  This workshop would be particularly effective in 
April 2003, since Jordan has officially announced that 
parliamentary elections would be held in Spring 2003, 
which it defined as extending till the end of June. 
Desired date: April 2003 
 
6.   Post seeks assistance in identifying speakers, 
establishing initial contact with them, and arranging 
the logistics of their visit to Amman.  We welcome 
arranging these programs in coordination with other 
posts in the region to reduce costs to individual 
posts.  Materials are extremely important for the kind 
of participatory workshops envisioned.  When chosen, 
speakers/specialists should be asked to forward to PA 
select handout materials and books for use in their 
sessions (materials available electronically can be 
downloaded and prepared locally at post).  Post- 
translated and produced materials can also be made 
available to other posts, if desired. 
 
7.   Program officer is: Information Officer Justin 
Siberell.  Contact information: (Tel.) 962-6-592-0101 
x2618; (Fax) 962-6-5928932; (E-mail) 
jsiberell@pd.state.gov 
Post thanks IIP in advance.  GNEHM