AKEED, Wasfi Khushman

A news website has fallen into the trap of haste when it published a story about the detention of a teacher while begging in one of the neighborhoods of western Amman. The incident triggered a debate over the significance of mentioning the profession in the headline and body of the story, let alone the dividing line between providing information and slander.

Local news websites were quick to publish the news, using headlines that focused on the "beggar teacher." Afterward, official denial was issued of the existence of proof that the beggar was a teacher. This prompted the Teachers" Syndicate to issue a statement, in which it called for confirming that the man is a teacher and threatened to sue news sites that promoted this story if it proves to be false.

Ibrahim Shabana, vice president of the Teachers" Syndicate, confirmed in a telephone call with the Jordanian Media Credibility Monitor (AKEED) that the detained person was a member of the Teachers" Syndicate. He said that the person is blind and has been appointed at a public school under the category "humanitarian cases," meaning that he does not give classes, as he put it. 

Shabana deplored what he described as media "focus" on the fact that the beggar was a teacher, wondering: What value does it add to mention his profession in the story? He again held successive governments responsible for the difficult conditions of teachers, demanding that teachers" living and economic conditions be improved so that "teaching can restore its glamour."  

Dr. Fawaz Ratrout, press spokesman for the Ministry of Social Development, criticized the press handling of the story. He said that a ministry official had spoken during a private audience and given information off the record, but the news site published it and attributed it to the official without consulting him and without going back to me as the press spokesman of the Ministry of Social Development.

He pointed out that the role of anti-begging teams ends after capturing adult beggars and handing them over to the security agencies, which can check their claims and personal and professional information.

The press coverage did not stop at this point. Several articles were published, lamenting the fact that teachers are forced to beg. Meanwhile, several sites and newspapers followed up the story of the beggar. One site published information on his salary, while a newspaper conducted an interview with him, in which he defended himself and affirmed that he was not a beggar, saying that he sold chewing gum.

The Press Code of Honor stipulates in Article 11 that journalists shall be committed to respecting the reputation of families, households, and individuals and the confidentiality of matters related to citizens. This is in line with international principles, ethics of journalistic work, and effective laws in the Kingdom.