JORDANIAN CABINET SENDS MEDIA REFORM MEASURES TO

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.

-------------- ---
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.

--------------
EDITORIAL LEEWAY FOR JTV AND PETRA
--------------


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.

--------------
COMMENT
--------------


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