Media coverage of the two recent terrorist incidents in Kerak has been the subject of debate, whether in media outlets or on pages of social media. As a matter of fact, the media has become the second key headline in media outlets, besides terrorist acts and their results.

Experts, citizens, and activists on social media and some news sites have lashed out at the official media and the management of state media. Also, "alternative" social media, which is not governed by professional standards in general, has faced severe criticism by citizens, as well as security sources and government media officials, because of publishing rumors, which were inaccurate. On other occasions, posters did not enjoy national responsibility and were unaware of the danger that could be posed by some information and videos to the security personnel who were performing the duties assigned to them.

The Jordanian Media Credibility Monitor (AKEED) has observed a relatively large number of media items that centered on media performance during the Kerak incidents. These items point to the shortcomings in the ability to respond to, and interact with, developments pertaining to the incident. The Monitor noticed that most of the items that commented on media performance were in the form of articles or press analyses. The headlines and content of these items contained clear criticism. The following headlines are examples:

Political Failure; Security Failure; Media Failure

Recent Terrorist Operations in Kerak: Lessons Learned

Domestic Media Agencies: Random Policy, Threat to National Security

Kerak Toppled Media of Jordanian State; Analysts, Truth Worlds Apart

Confusion of Media in the Face of Terrorism, Red Line

In the meantime, there was a back-and-forth, especially with the emergence of clear shortcomings in the official media position. For example, Mohammad Momani, official government spokesman, made a statement carried by the official news agency "Petra" under the headline: Raid in Kerak Against Wanted Persons, Unrelated to Terrorist Operation That Occurred Sunday. Then, the same source provided details of what happened in Qreifelleh, which confirmed that the two operations were connected. However, he gave a story that triggered a new debate on social media pages. Some said that the story was untrue, while others justified this by saying that the official spokesman provides the information that is given to him. Momani responded to the criticism, affirming that the information given to the media about the Kerak incidents was clear and 100% accurate, according to the information received from the security agencies, while taking into consideration that the information must not affect the progress of the investigations.

Momani stressed that "no person, from a security or ethical perspective, may spread a rumor or post a video within the context of what is going on because he would be releasing information that could affect the morale of the security agencies and he could confuse the citizens. Some persons recorded videos that weaken the resolve of our security agencies. This is not permissible."

However, this did not stop the criticism leveled at the official media:

Official Media: Fear or Failure?

Official Media During Crises

Kerak Incident in Opinion Columns, Articles

Rumors Mix With News, Confusing Citizens Following Kerak Incidents

Kerak Incident…Media Failed To Assume Societal Responsibility and Fell Into Trap of Rumors

The last report noted the absence of the official story, which could have refuted all the rumors that were circulating and that harmed everybody and pushed citizens to look for information anywhere and to accept any piece of news regardless of its accuracy.

Media in Kerak Incidents: Surrender to Self-Censorship and Submission to Government Story. This report  monitored how the local media handled the Kerak incidents and the self-censorship in press circles, noting the prevalence of populist rhetoric that urged stopping criticism of the security agencies in their fight against terrorist groups. The report added: "Journalists and officials forget that surrender to emotional rhetoric and national mobilization, amid the absence of accurate information and the press abandoning its role of accountability in favor of full reliance on government stories, will only make things worse and aggravate problems in the short and long run."

In the meantime, a news story was published to the effect that the director general of Jordan TV would not have his term extended. The step was viewed within the context of the response to the criticism of official media. An electronic site published a more comprehensive observation headlined "Dismissing Media Directors Not Enough." It stated the following: "Dismissing all the directors of official media establishments, though logical, is not enough or convincing. What happened was media failure and absence, which is absolutely unacceptable. Not renewing the term of the TV director does not exempt this government from responsibility. It must acknowledge its failure and start creating emergency plans and media operations rooms to handle exceptional circumstances."

However, Radio and TV Director General Tarawneh denied this by saying that the reason for not renewing his contract was that he had reached the legal age, adding that the rumors that stated that not renewing his term was due to the lack of news coverage of the Kerak operation were untrue. He confirmed that he had turned 60.

In addition, some TV employees released a statement accusing their management of failure, saying that it "was reluctant to make decisions due to the state of terror and fear and waiting for instructions from other entities or agencies, which mostly come from higher bodies." They added: "Every one of us, each at his position in the Radio and TV Corporation, was fully prepared to carry out our sacred duty and exercise our national media role in a manner that is consistent with the efforts of the various organs of the state."

Criticism of the government media and its management has turned into a parliamentary and political demand. In the closed session of Parliament, the deputies leveled criticism at the official media. Also, a number of political parties, calling themselves Tayyar al-Tajdid, issued a statement that criticized the absence of official media during the Kerak incidents, while many other satellite channels were reporting live from the scene, in audio and video, thus becoming the source of information for citizens.

On the sidelines of this debate over the performance of media outlets, Media Commission Chairman Mohammad Qtaishat confirmed that any media outlet that publishes news, statements, articles, or comments related to the domestic or external affairs of the Kingdom, without obtaining a license by the commission, would be suspended. He called for avoiding rumors and false news affecting the security of the country through publishing media items that obstruct the progress of security operations or harm national unity.

Some media outlets reported that the correspondent of Al Jazeera TV was attacked by citizens while covering the incidents that occurred in the town of Qreifelleh in Kerak and that the equipment of the channel was seized, but that citizens eventually returned it.

The AKEED Monitor had published a report, in which it observed what it termed lack of control of media and the growing role of "citizen journalists" at the expense of the role of professional media outlets.

Finally, it has been obvious, repeatedly, that such incidents make public opinion, domestically and externally, extremely interested in the media. Obviously, the public is following developments more closely and is alert.

Logically, with the exception of those in direct contact with the event, as happened in Kerak, by virtue of their duties or locations, all other people following developments depend on the media as a means not only to understand what is happening and receive information, but also to take positions. When it has to do with an issue like terrorism, the question of the media should be taken with greater seriousness on the national level because this is linked to the right of citizens to know and the extent of having a fair and independent channel for the flow of information. If the media is absent, this creates room for rumors and internal and external political exploitation.

Natural scenery, antiquities, or documentaries, which the national television is in the habit of broadcasting, are no longer sufficient to create a state of "venerable silence" and wait for what the official spokesman will say. Despite the importance of official information, which is the story that fills the gap of information, the official story is no longer decisive and is no longer the only story in light of the huge flow of information, opinions, and impressions from different sources.

The Kerak incidents raise, once again, the questions of professionalism, speed, accuracy, and credibility in media performance. They confirm that news of crises does not wait for anyone. The most prominent healthy manifestation of what happened is that the high ceiling of criticism and debate over the performance of the media is considered a form of societal accountability, which will keep accumulating until the performance of the media changes and these instruments become a faithful guardian of the right of society to know.