AKEED, Anwar Ziadat and Lana Kazkaz

Media coverage of the terrorist operation in Fuheis and the security operation in Salt has shown signs of visible improvement in performance by providing quick responses and information through official media and coverage by public and private media. Clearly, the performance of official media benefited from previous lessons in covering similar crises. The government, represented by the official spokesperson, was quick to respond and provide comprehensive information as events unfolded. There was a statement every one hour and a half. The media also played a role by covering breaking news, thus reducing public dependence on alternative and external media.

Professional Mistakes

In spite of this, some local media outlets and news websites committed professional mistakes over the past two days and published inaccurate information on the security situation. This followed the explosion in a Gendarmerie vehicle in Fuheis on Friday evening and the ensuing siege of the perpetrators of the terrorist operation in the city of Salt.

The first mistake was the announcement that the incident occurred because of a tear gas grenade. One of the most read local websites ran a story titled "One Dead, Several Injured in Explosion of Tear Gas Grenade Inside Gendarmerie Vehicle in Fuheis (Video)." The website quoted a security source as saying that "a tear gas grenade exploded by mistake inside a Gendarmerie patrol within the periphery of Fuheis Festival." The same story with the same details was posted on other websites. The story was proven to be inaccurate after the announcement by the Ministry of Interior that "a crude bomb was the cause of the explosion." The story was published in the media under the headline "Fuheis Explosion Yesterday Caused by IED."

The second mistake was ruling out terrorism as the cause of the incident. News websites reported the story under the following headline: "Government Source: Explosion of Gendarmerie Forces' Vehicle Not Connected to Terrorist Act." The story ran as follows: "A senior government source stated that the explosion that occurred this afternoon, Friday, in a vehicle of the Gendarmerie Forces at Fuheis Festival is not connected to a terrorist act."

However, it turned out that the explosion was carried out by a terrorist group. This was announced in a statement by the Ministry of Interior and published in the media under the headline "Ministry of Interior: Fuheis Incident Caused by Terrorist Act."

The third story, which proved to be inaccurate, involved the aftermath of the Fuheis explosion. It was published under the headline "Security Forces Seal Off Tabarbour To Apprehend Suspect in Terrorist Incident." The story was published by a daily newspaper, which later removed it. Many websites carried the story. Afterward, another story was published under the headline "Several Suspects in Fuheis Bombing Arrested in Security Operation in Tabarbour." It later turned out that the story was incorrect. A security source denied news of the raid under the headline "Security Source: No Raids in Tabarbour."

The fourth incorrect story reported by the media was headlined "Razzaz at Salt Hospital Now." The story said that "Prime Minister Dr. Omar Razzaz has just arrived at Salt public hospital." The story was immediately denied under the headline "Government Source: Razzaz Not in Salt."

Differences in Body of News

The AKEED Monitor observed that there were differences sometimes in the body of some news items, which are supposed to read the same, such as news about banning publishing by the prosecutor general. There were differences between websites in how the story was reported.

Problem With Figures

Some stories reported conflicting figures. For example, stories were published on Thursday under the headline "One Gendarmerie Officer Dead, Four Injured in Fuheis Explosion." Another website ran the story under the headline "One Gendarmerie Officer Martyred, Six Injured in Explosion of Gendarmerie Vehicle in Fuheis." Figures also differed with regard to the raid in Salt.

Performance of Official Media

The performance of official media was generally good. This performance, however, can be divided into stages. In the first stage, there was a delay in explaining the incident and its details over three hours after it happened. A statement was issued by the Gendarmerie Forces around 2130 on Friday. It spoke about the death of one Gendarmerie officer and the injury of six Gendarmerie and Public Security personnel in the explosion of a vehicle.

The government issued a statement the next day attributed to the Ministry of Interior, stating that "a crude explosive device was the cause of the explosion in the Gendarmerie-Public Security patrol in Fuheis." In the evening, and after the raid in Salt got underway, the statements issued by Jumana Ghunaimat, minister of state for media affairs and official spokesperson for the government, started covering events well as they developed.

Media outlets covered the terrorist incident extensively and kept the public up to date. Local TV stations carried live reports, hosted analysts, and followed all the details. This is very important to counter the spread of rumors when such incidents occur.

Broadcasting on Social Media

Apparently, the live coverage provided by some media and the live broadcast on social media negatively affected the security aspect and the actions of the security forces. In this regard, the government warned against posting videos and pictures that would jeopardize the progress of the security operation. Government spokesperson Jumana Ghunaimat asked citizens not to publish the names of the injured in the terrorist incident and not to circulate videos as this would jeopardize the progress of the security operation.

Violations involving publishing the names and military ranks on news websites were limited and almost negligible. However, there were clear violations on social media sites.

MP Dr. Mustafa Yaghi said that the ban on publishing by the prosecutor general was a correct decision. He added: "The live broadcasts by activists on Facebook obstructed and compromised the security operation. Sleeper cells and people aiding terrorists could recognize the place of the raid by learning about their movements, which were broadcast live on Facebook."

Rakan Saaideh, president of the Jordan Press Association, told AKEED that the ban on publishing by the prosecutor general was a correct decision. Publishing the names of martyrs and injured before informing their families has a negative effect and creates a state of confusion. It also shows lack of respect for the martyrs and injured.

He added that "the question of rumors is serious. Incorrect information was circulated about the raid. Even if it were correct, publishing it under the circumstances would affect the progress of the security operation and could benefit the enemy. We should consider all hypotheses and refrain from publishing information that benefits the enemy."

He considered what activists posted on social media sites to be "disastrous and unprofessional. It affects the progress of a major and sensitive security operation that has serious implications and that should be handled wisely." He added that "government media performance this time was better, compared with previous times, in terms of the logical flow of information in record time through the statements made by the minister of information." He said that the performance of official and semiofficial media was good. As for social media and news sites, which have a large following, they competed over circulating information and broadcasting news, regardless if it is true or false.