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Ammon News - AMMONNEWS - State Minister for Media Affairs and government spokesperson Mohammad Momai said the government was committed to enhancing the role of the national media and respecting its right to work in a free and independent manner.

"This conforms to the political approach that aims at pushing the political reforms forward as part of the comprehensive reform process led by His Majesty King Abdullah II," the minister added in opening remarks at a forum on media reforms in Jordan.

Momani, who deputized for the prime minister, said the government is reviewing the 2011-2015 Jordanian media strategy to assess the accomplishments and complete the measures designed to develop the media sector.

He said that access to information, audio-visual and press and publication laws remain a top priority for the government.

"Developing the media environment as well as laws regulating it, is a continuous process that does not stop with the end of a specific phase or strategy," Momani added.

The minister said that the media strategy stated the need to highlight religious discourse that reflects the true image of Islam, its tolerance and its openness to other cultures.

The forum, he said, supports the government's efforts to develop the media sector, and its proposals enrich ideas and efforts that help in drawing up legislations and taking decisions.

The forum aims to discuss a study of the media in Jordan that was implemented by a number of media personnel and researchers for the Centre for Defending the Freedom of Journalists (CDFJ).

Media personnel, lawyers, human rights activists in addition to MP's and former information ministers will discuss in three sessions recommendations of the study, as well as an action plan to cooperate with media institutions, the government and civil society institutions to implement the study.

*Petra