When Ammon News Agency first appeared on screens at the end of 2004, Jordanian journalism was standing at the threshold of a new era. Daily print newspapers dominated the media landscape, while digital journalism was still in its infancy, long before the internet evolved into one of the most influential arenas for news production and public discourse.

Against this backdrop, Ammon emerged as Jordan’s first electronic newspaper, carrying a vision that differed from the prevailing model. It was founded on a dream that had long inspired its owner, Samir Alhyari: to establish a private news agency free from personal interests and narrow agendas, delivering news as it is, serving as a complement to official news agencies but from a different perspective—the perspective of ordinary people, their concerns, and their daily issues.

The dream was not an easy one to realize. In the early days, the founders worked tirelessly around the clock to bring their project to life. The website was launched from a café in one of Amman’s suburbs, with modest resources and a budget that did not exceed $100.

Technical capabilities were initially limited to the point that the website could accommodate only around 100 readers simultaneously. Yet readership grew steadily day after day, creating the need for further investment in technology, infrastructure, and personnel. What began as a small experiment gradually evolved into one of Jordan’s leading digital media institutions.

In 2005, Ammon was officially launched from its headquarters, marking the beginning of a new phase of expansion and growth, eventually becoming a media institution with significant influence, value, and presence within Jordan’s media landscape.

Marching Toward Greater Media Freedom

From the outset, Ammon chose to broaden the boundaries of what could be published in Jordanian media. It became a platform for news and opinions that often struggled to find space in traditional newspapers. The agency evolved into a safe haven for content that faced publication barriers, stitching together what censorship sometimes cut from print media.

Ammon positioned itself as a defender of the Fourth Estate, refusing to become a tool for flattery, image polishing, corruption, or political score-settling. It made a conscious decision never to sell its words, regardless of the price, in a time when many believed everything could be bought and sold.

As its influence expanded, the platform became a destination for journalists, writers, and researchers seeking to reach broader audiences. For many readers, it became a fast and reliable source for following news and issues affecting their daily lives.

The journey, however, was far from smooth. Like many media organizations that sought to expand the boundaries of public discourse, Ammon paid a price at various stages for its editorial positions and published content.

Over the years, its pages became a meeting place where politicians engaged with journalists, experts interacted with citizens, and complainants found a channel to reach officials. Publishing information and fostering public debate became central to the role the institution chose to play.

For more than two decades, Ammon has hosted hundreds of writers and journalists, many of whom have gone on to prominent roles in media, politics, and leadership. Numerous journalists who began or developed their careers through Ammon’s platform have become recognized figures within Jordan’s journalistic community.

A Platform for Everyone and a Space for Dialogue

Ammon’s mission extended beyond reporting the news. From an early stage, it sought to create a forum for discussion around issues that matter to Jordanians.

Its pages welcomed diverse viewpoints, provided opportunities for responses and clarifications, and frequently presented multiple perspectives on contentious issues while safeguarding the right of all concerned parties to reply and comment.

The agency devoted substantial attention to economic, social, legal, and public service issues, alongside political, cultural, and sports coverage, driven by the belief that news affecting citizens’ everyday lives is no less important than political developments.

Ammon also worked to maintain open channels of communication with its audience, publishing complaints and observations, engaging directly with readers, and covering social occasions ranging from celebrations to condolences.

As a result, for many followers, Ammon became more than a news website. It evolved into a space where citizens could voice concerns, seek answers, and draw attention to issues they believed deserved the attention of decision-makers.

Obstacles Along the Way

Like many media ventures in Jordan, Ammon’s path was not without challenges. Over the years, the institution faced crises, pressures, cyberattacks, and attempts to influence its work.

These incidents were not merely passing moments in its history. They tested the organization’s resilience in a changing political and media environment and compelled it to continuously strengthen both its technological safeguards and editorial standards.

Credibility, Professionalism, and Speed

For more than twenty years, three defining principles have remained at the heart of Ammon’s identity: credibility, professionalism, and speed.

As dozens of Jordanian news websites emerged following its pioneering experience, Ammon maintained a prominent position in the media landscape. Its reports and coverage became sources relied upon by other media outlets, while many of its stories sparked wider public debate.

Its commitment to rapid reporting and around-the-clock coverage helped establish the platform as a trusted news source, particularly as audiences gradually shifted from print newspapers to smartphones and digital screens.

As the media landscape evolved, competition among news organizations came to depend not only on breaking stories first, but also on the accuracy of information, the speed of delivery, the quality of presentation, and the ability to preserve public trust.

In this increasingly competitive environment, Ammon has consistently worked to strengthen its editorial and technological capabilities.

Continuous Evolution

Ammon’s journey did not end with being Jordan’s first electronic newspaper. The organization continued to adapt to the rapid transformations of digital media.

It embraced social media at an early stage, developed its applications and news channels, launched audience engagement services, and expanded into visual and audio content. It also quickly acquired advanced technologies for filming and broadcasting.

Through its programs and video interviews, Ammon documented significant events that shaped Jordan and the Arab region, preserving important moments of the past two decades through both words and images.

Beyond daily news coverage, the institution invested in documentary and historical productions, seeking to make its archive an integral part of Jordan’s media memory.

In recent years, Ammon has also begun integrating artificial intelligence into certain technical and creative processes, including design, photography, and editing, while maintaining that editorial judgment and journalistic work remain firmly in the hands of journalists to preserve the human dimension of storytelling and news reporting.

More Than Twenty Years

More than two decades after its launch, Ammon’s story is no longer simply that of a website that began with limited resources in a small café in Amman.

In many ways, it mirrors the transformation of Jordanian media itself—from the era of printed newspapers awaiting readers each morning to smartphone screens delivering news in real time; from traditional newsrooms to an open, continuous digital information environment.

Throughout this journey, Ammon experienced periods of growth, crises, disagreements, and achievements. It gained audiences and lost others, generated controversy at times, and influenced public debate at others.

Yet the core idea behind its creation has remained unchanged: to provide a space where citizens can find news, read opinions, ask questions, and make their voices heard.

For this reason, the 'Silent Majority' that Ammon chose to represent was never merely a statistical category. It was the citizen without a platform, the journalist seeking a space to write, the expert wishing to share an opinion, and the complainant striving to reach decision-makers.

From a small café in Amman to one of Jordan’s leading news platforms, Ammon has traveled a long and challenging road spanning more than twenty years.

Today, its greatest challenge is not merely preserving what it has achieved, but preserving the principle that made those achievements possible: remaining close to the people, present in the moment, accurate in reporting, and willing to speak when speaking becomes most difficult.

More than twenty years have passed, and Ammon remains the voice it chose to be from day one—the voice of the Silent Majority.

When Ammon News Agency first appeared on screens at the end of 2004, Jordanian journalism was standing at the threshold of a new era. Daily print newspapers dominated the media landscape, while digital journalism was still in its infancy, long before the internet evolved into one of the most influential arenas for news production and public discourse.

Against this backdrop, Ammon emerged as Jordan’s first electronic newspaper, carrying a vision that differed from the prevailing model. It was founded on a dream that had long inspired its owner, Samir Alhyari: to establish a private news agency free from personal interests and narrow agendas, delivering news as it is, serving as a complement to official news agencies but from a different perspective—the perspective of ordinary people, their concerns, and their daily issues.

The dream was not an easy one to realize. In the early days, the founders worked tirelessly around the clock to bring their project to life. The website was launched from a café in one of Amman’s suburbs, with modest resources and a budget that did not exceed $100.

Technical capabilities were initially limited to the point that the website could accommodate only around 100 readers simultaneously. Yet readership grew steadily day after day, creating the need for further investment in technology, infrastructure, and personnel. What began as a small experiment gradually evolved into one of Jordan’s leading digital media institutions.

In 2005, Ammon was officially launched from its headquarters, marking the beginning of a new phase of expansion and growth, eventually becoming a media institution with significant influence, value, and presence within Jordan’s media landscape.

Marching Toward Greater Media Freedom

From the outset, Ammon chose to broaden the boundaries of what could be published in Jordanian media. It became a platform for news and opinions that often struggled to find space in traditional newspapers. The agency evolved into a safe haven for content that faced publication barriers, stitching together what censorship sometimes cut from print media.

Ammon positioned itself as a defender of the Fourth Estate, refusing to become a tool for flattery, image polishing, corruption, or political score-settling. It made a conscious decision never to sell its words, regardless of the price, in a time when many believed everything could be bought and sold.

As its influence expanded, the platform became a destination for journalists, writers, and researchers seeking to reach broader audiences. For many readers, it became a fast and reliable source for following news and issues affecting their daily lives.

The journey, however, was far from smooth. Like many media organizations that sought to expand the boundaries of public discourse, Ammon paid a price at various stages for its editorial positions and published content.

Over the years, its pages became a meeting place where politicians engaged with journalists, experts interacted with citizens, and complainants found a channel to reach officials. Publishing information and fostering public debate became central to the role the institution chose to play.

For more than two decades, Ammon has hosted hundreds of writers and journalists, many of whom have gone on to prominent roles in media, politics, and leadership. Numerous journalists who began or developed their careers through Ammon’s platform have become recognized figures within Jordan’s journalistic community.

A Platform for Everyone and a Space for Dialogue

Ammon’s mission extended beyond reporting the news. From an early stage, it sought to create a forum for discussion around issues that matter to Jordanians.

Its pages welcomed diverse viewpoints, provided opportunities for responses and clarifications, and frequently presented multiple perspectives on contentious issues while safeguarding the right of all concerned parties to reply and comment.

The agency devoted substantial attention to economic, social, legal, and public service issues, alongside political, cultural, and sports coverage, driven by the belief that news affecting citizens’ everyday lives is no less important than political developments.

Ammon also worked to maintain open channels of communication with its audience, publishing complaints and observations, engaging directly with readers, and covering social occasions ranging from celebrations to condolences.

As a result, for many followers, Ammon became more than a news website. It evolved into a space where citizens could voice concerns, seek answers, and draw attention to issues they believed deserved the attention of decision-makers.

Obstacles Along the Way

Like many media ventures in Jordan, Ammon’s path was not without challenges. Over the years, the institution faced crises, pressures, cyberattacks, and attempts to influence its work.

These incidents were not merely passing moments in its history. They tested the organization’s resilience in a changing political and media environment and compelled it to continuously strengthen both its technological safeguards and editorial standards.

Credibility, Professionalism, and Speed

For more than twenty years, three defining principles have remained at the heart of Ammon’s identity: credibility, professionalism, and speed.

As dozens of Jordanian news websites emerged following its pioneering experience, Ammon maintained a prominent position in the media landscape. Its reports and coverage became sources relied upon by other media outlets, while many of its stories sparked wider public debate.

Its commitment to rapid reporting and around-the-clock coverage helped establish the platform as a trusted news source, particularly as audiences gradually shifted from print newspapers to smartphones and digital screens.

As the media landscape evolved, competition among news organizations came to depend not only on breaking stories first, but also on the accuracy of information, the speed of delivery, the quality of presentation, and the ability to preserve public trust.

In this increasingly competitive environment, Ammon has consistently worked to strengthen its editorial and technological capabilities.

Continuous Evolution

Ammon’s journey did not end with being Jordan’s first electronic newspaper. The organization continued to adapt to the rapid transformations of digital media.

It embraced social media at an early stage, developed its applications and news channels, launched audience engagement services, and expanded into visual and audio content. It also quickly acquired advanced technologies for filming and broadcasting.

Through its programs and video interviews, Ammon documented significant events that shaped Jordan and the Arab region, preserving important moments of the past two decades through both words and images.

Beyond daily news coverage, the institution invested in documentary and historical productions, seeking to make its archive an integral part of Jordan’s media memory.

In recent years, Ammon has also begun integrating artificial intelligence into certain technical and creative processes, including design, photography, and editing, while maintaining that editorial judgment and journalistic work remain firmly in the hands of journalists to preserve the human dimension of storytelling and news reporting.

More Than Twenty Years

More than two decades after its launch, Ammon’s story is no longer simply that of a website that began with limited resources in a small café in Amman.

In many ways, it mirrors the transformation of Jordanian media itself—from the era of printed newspapers awaiting readers each morning to smartphone screens delivering news in real time; from traditional newsrooms to an open, continuous digital information environment.

Throughout this journey, Ammon experienced periods of growth, crises, disagreements, and achievements. It gained audiences and lost others, generated controversy at times, and influenced public debate at others.

Yet the core idea behind its creation has remained unchanged: to provide a space where citizens can find news, read opinions, ask questions, and make their voices heard.

For this reason, the 'Silent Majority' that Ammon chose to represent was never merely a statistical category. It was the citizen without a platform, the journalist seeking a space to write, the expert wishing to share an opinion, and the complainant striving to reach decision-makers.

From a small café in Amman to one of Jordan’s leading news platforms, Ammon has traveled a long and challenging road spanning more than twenty years.

Today, its greatest challenge is not merely preserving what it has achieved, but preserving the principle that made those achievements possible: remaining close to the people, present in the moment, accurate in reporting, and willing to speak when speaking becomes most difficult.

More than twenty years have passed, and Ammon remains the voice it chose to be from day one—the voice of the Silent Majority.