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Ammon News -

Minister of State for Media Affairs, Faisal Shboul, on Wednesday reaffirmed the government's keenness to bolster partnership and cooperation with the Jordan Press Association (JPA), which would contribute to addressing challenges facing the press and media sector and improving its situation.

Shboul gave his remarks during a visit to the JPA where he met with its president, Rakan Saaydeh and council members.

Shboul, who is also the government spokesperson, said the government looks forward to enhance the role of the JPA, as "the Jordanian press house and an umbrella for journalists", in regulating the profession.

He revealed a preliminary government vision to reconsider the legislation governing the press and media sector and the media environment in cooperation and coordination with the JPA, including the cybercrime law.

"There is no government decision in the near future to restructure the government media," Shboul stressed, pointing out that the defense law currently in force preserved Jordanian workers and didn't allow employees layoff in all sectors, including the media.

Concluding his statement, the media minister said the government will examine all demands that the JPA council is set to present, underling the importance of continuing communication meetings between the government and the JPA council, which would enhance the media ecosystem.

For his part, JPA president, Rakan Saaydeh, underlined the importance of supporting media institutions as it constitute "national interest", especially since the media is a state "key weapon" and defends its causes.

Saaydeh called for applying the career path for employees of the Jordan News Agency (Petra), Jordan Radio and Television Corporation (JRTV) and Al Mamlaka ("The Kingdom") television station, on next year's budget, in addition to raising allocations for bonuses and incentives for employees in these institutions, and granting an allowance to JPA members working in the Al Mamlaka.

The JPA president highlighted a number of issues and challenges facing journalists, including the restructuring of government media institutions, the newspapers' financial crisis, the importance of activating the National Fund to Support the Press and other issues.

He added that JPA will submit a report to the government on issues and problems facing workers in media institutions in the coming period.

An extensive discussion took place between the media minister and the JPA members, as they raised a set of issues and remarks related to workers in media institutions and the media landscape in general.