Media professionalism, objective coverage vital to development — experts

AMMAN — Credible and objective media coverage plays a major role in the successful adoption and implementation of policies aimed at achieving economic progress, economists and media figures have agreed.

The issue was dis-cussed during a work-shop organised Thurs-day by Imdad Media Centre (IMC) in cooperation with the Jordan In-vestment Commission. IMC Director Nabil Al Sharif told The Jordan Times that the rapid growth of media outlets in recent decades has made the sector more vital to the success of economic development.

“Sustainable economic development and growth are issues which the media plays an important role in, but the media has to observe objectivity and credibility in delivering information to the public,” the former minister of media affairs said. On the other hand, Sharif said experts and officials concerned with finance, business and other related fields should make sure that reporters have acess to “accurate, clear and comprehensive information”.

Investment Commission President Montaser Oklah said at the opening of the work-shop that the government took qualitative leaps to attract local and foreign investments by facilitating registration and licensing procedures, and eliminating red tape.

“We believe in the role of responsible media in helping us attract investors,” said Oklah, adding that at some point media outlets compromised accuracy and objectivity to win scoops. Al Rai’s economic columnist Issam Qadamani, said the media’s role is not to attract investments, but to report decisions and information provided by officials.

“If you want to truly engage and build a national economy, it’s time to let go of old paradigms that include withholding in-formation and limited transparency.” Zayyan Zawaneh, an economist and banker, told The Jordan Times that investments are necessary to combat unemployment, “and here comes the need to invest in and empower enlightened media bodies, and provide them with better access to information.”