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Ammon News -

Minister of State for Media Affairs, Faisal Shboul, said that the media is a guarantee of public opinion, because it contributes to raising society's awareness and reflects its concerns, as well as curbing the spread of rumors that affect the social fabric.

Speaking to a number of presenters of morning radio shows on Tuesday at the Prime Ministry, Shboul lauded the national role of Jordanian radio stations in defending state causes and conveying its messages, in addition to providing public opinion with information, news, and awareness and education messages.

Shboul, who is also the government spokesperson, said that the government is pursuing a policy of communicating with various media outlets, as it believes in its national and professional role.

He added that the government, in order to ensure the flow of information and enhance government communication with the media, has completed the first phase of a training and capacity building program for government media spokespersons.

He further added that the second phase of the program will see the training and qualifying media spokespersons in government institutions and departments, to ensure assigning a qualified team of government spokespersons capable of delivering information to the media in a timely manner, providing service to citizens and contributing to limiting the spread of rumors, in addition to strengthening government reach and communication with media institutions.

Shboul pointed to some government plans for the media sector during the coming period, including: training many graduates of journalism and media in Jordanian universities over time periods, with the aim of qualifying them to be able to respond to requirements of the labor market in media institutions.

During the meeting, Shboul highlighted government measures to limit the hike in commodity prices globally, in order to alleviate pressures on citizens, such as reducing customs duties and restructuring them, as well as reducing taxes on vegetable oils and on some feed production inputs, and stabilizing the prices of oil derivatives for the past three months.

Shboul indicated that Jordan has gone through many economic crises during the past decades, but it has overcome them with the wisdom of its Hashemite leadership and the awareness of its people.

The Media Minister listened to proposals of radio program providers on a number of local and media issues, such as financial situations of media institutions in general, and radio stations in particular, due to the decline in the advertising market published on social media, and the importance of passing legislation governing their work, in addition to tightening control over prices of basic commodities in the markets.

They underlined the importance of empowering radio stations and expanding their broadcasting scope to include all governorates of the Kingdom by reconsidering licensing and broadcasting fees, in addition to strengthening the role of media spokespersons in ministries and government institutions, improving government discourse and strengthening government communication with radio stations.