News posted by a local news website claiming that the Jordan Press Association (JPA) has only accepted membership application forms submitted by journalists working for Al-Mamlakah TV channel proved to be not true.

The same report alleged that enrolment requests made by other media professionals employed by other satellite channels were rejected by the JPA.

Jordan Media Monitor, Akeed, which cross-checked the facts, said the report was not only incorrect but also imbalanced; it presented one side of the story to the exclusion of the other–JPA in this case. Sources were also unidentified; they were referred to as “several colleagues working for privately-owned satellite channels.” This, explained Akeed represents another professional violation detected in the report.

JPA board member Mr. Khaled Qudah told Akeed that the association only accepts permanent employment contracts for journalists. Enrolment applications made by journalists who have fixed-term contracts are rejected given that these contracts are considered “unfair” to employees and could leave them open to exploitation, added the official.

In addition to Al-Mamlakah, the JPA has accepted applications submitted by Roya journalists since these were permanent contracts, he noted.

Some colleagues started the mandatory training period while working at Roya then moved to work for Al-Mamlakah where they completed the training, said Qudah.

A three or six-month work contract, or any fixed-term contract, is just a way to circumvent the law and is a tool that puts pressures on journalists and limits their freedom of expression.  

The JPA work is regulated by a law, stressed Qudah, adding that all media outlets are dealt with equally. Employment contracts are also subject to clear conditions. The JPA and journalists also abide by a code of conduct, he said.

Akeed urges media institutions to adhere to professional standards chiefly accuracy, objectivity, and balanced reporting. It also calls on journalists to stay away from passing judgments.