Press syndicate warns against ‘impersonators’

AMMAN – Jordan Press Association (JPA) on Saturday warned against people impersonating journalists, a phenomenon it said hurts the reputation of the profession. 

In an official letter sent to Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour and Parliament leaders, the JPA said that it recently observed several individuals presenting themselves as members of the media, including some who used the faked identity for blackmailing. 

The syndicate's council urged the government and all public agencies not to invite such people to public events, news conferences and receptions in a bid to end violations by  “interlopers", adding that the deeds of these people are causing embarrassment to the profession and the country.

“Recently, the association has observed that many people impersonate journalists and act accordingly. Many of them attend press conferences, private meetings for journalists. These acts are hurting the reputation of the Jordanian media and journalists,” a JPA statement said. 

The JPA was apparently referring to workers from unregistered news websites who are not qualified or certified as journalists, especially as the JPA requires a person to be a member of the syndicate to be recognised as a journalist. 

The new Press and Publication Law gives media outlets workers the chance to be treated as reporters and the right to cover events if these sites are registered with the JPA under a special system. 

The association said it was ready to respond to any queries related to the membership of any person, adding that the names of members of the press association are available on its website.