Media Accountability in Authoritarian and Transitional Systems The Cases of Jordan and Tunisia By...

Media Accountability in Authoritarian and Transitional Systems

The Cases of Jordan and Tunisia

By Judith Pies

Session 13

Photo: imago/ecomedia/robert fishman

2Session 13 – Authoritarian & Transitional SystemsJuly 2013

Features of Journalism in (Soft) Authoritarian Regimes

Limited press freedom

Limited access to information

Regime-controlled access to profession

Direct and indirect censorship

Regime-controlled journalism education

Economic requirements limit regime-critical media outlets

photo: unesco.org.uk


Regime Dominance in Holding the Media to Acocunt

Political accountability(strong)

Market accountability(controlled by regime)

Public accountability(growing)

Professional accountability(weak)

Media

Modes of media accountability

Source: Adapted from Bardoel/D‘Haenens 2004


The Case of JordanLimited media liberalization since the martial law has been lifted in

1989

Opening of the print media sector for private ownership (only since 2007 licencing as companies has been possible)

Partly opening of the broad-casting sector for private ownership (still strict govern-mental licensing controll, partly censored)

Opening the journalists association for ALL journalists (not only print media and state broadcasters)

Acces to Information Law (not yet fully implemented)

1993 2002 2007 2011

Source: Adapted from Pies/Nedjaa 2013


Status Quo of Self-Regulation in JordanUnder the patronage of the regime

HMC Freedoms Commitee JPA Disciplinary CouncilSymbols of how ‚self-regulation‘ functions

in authoritarian regimes

The Higher Media Council (HMC) was meant to replace the Ministry of Information in 2001 and to support „professional journalism“. The HMC Freedoms Commitee was established to moderate between media organisations and people complaining about them. Members were appointed by the king. Media organisations had to agree on discussing complaints

The HMC and the Commitee failed

The Jordan Press Assoication (JPA) has been instrumentalized by the regime since 1989. The Disciplinary Council is meant to moderate complaints against the press . Members are appointed by the JPA steering committee. Decisions are legally binding. Convictions can lead to a ban from the profession.

The number of disciplinary councils is growing

Photo: Judith Pies


Status Quo of Self-Regulation in Jordan Codes of Ethics

The code of ethics by the Jordanian Press Association (JPA) was part of a deal between government and JPA to prevent further tightening of the press law in 2003. The deal included that parts of the code had to integrated in the press law.Pr

ofes

sion

al L

evel

Org

anis

ation

al L

evel

Since 2007 the number of codes of ethics on the organizational level has been growing. Outlets having a code of ethics are for example Ammonnews website, Al-Ghad newspaper, Petra news agency.

Screenshot: jpa.jo

Screenshot: alghad.com

Screenshot: ammonnews.net


Perception of Self-Regulation by Jordanian Journalists

Results from the MediaAcT-Survey (2012)1. Support for sanctions2. Scepticism towards formal institutions of regulation e.g. press councils3. Strong support for responsible media

%88,9

54,5

49

5

19,2

33

0 20 40 60 80 100

Journalistic responsibility is aprerequisite for press freedom.

Formal systems of media self-regulation are open to abuse for…

To be effective, self-regulation mustinclude some form of sanction.

"Disgaree", "Totally disagree"

"Agree", "Fully agree"

%


Media Accountability by Online Media Organisations

Results from a content analysis (Pies/Madanat 2011)

Table 7: Actor transparency in Jordanian online newspapers and news websitesTable 7: Actor transparency in Jordanian online newspapers and news websites

Actor Transparency partly applied

Production Transparency partly applied

Responsive practices widely applied

Practice Online newspapers & news websites (n=12)Published mission statement 7Published code of ethics 1Profiles of journalists 2Public information on company ownership 8

Actor transparency in Jordanian online newspapers and news websites

Practice Online newspapers & news websites (n=12)Authorship stated for each story 7Precise reference 8Links to sources in stories 0Journalists’ blogs discussing production 0

Production transparency in Jordanian online newspapers and news websites

Practice Online newspapers & news websites (n=12)Collaborative story writing with citizens 7Comments in news 11Polls 9Twitter and/or Facebook account 9

Responsive Practices in Jordanian online newspapers and news websites

Source: Pies/Madanat 2011: 17




Media Accountability Initiatives by CitizensJordanian examples

Sahafi.jo website

AmmanNet listeners‘ club

7iber.com citizens‘ platform

AimCollecting, editing and archiving coverage of media and journalism news in Jordan and the Arab World

AimImproving radio news coverage, adjusting the news agenda to local needs, supporting news gathering.

AimHolding the media to account for what they don‘t cover. Improving media literacy, monitoring media coverage.

Screenshot: www.sahafi.jo

Screenshot: www.ammannet.net

Screenshot: www.7iber.com


Public Accountability: A Counter-Balance to the Regime

Results from the MediaAcT Survey (2012)

… provide a contact for complaints

… employ an ombudsmen

… respond to users comments

… provide opportunites to directly communicate with journalists via social

media

2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5

News outlets should …

Jordan

Means

Jordanian journalists strongly support MA mechanisms by the audience


Features of Journalism in Transitional Systems

Photo: Nasser Nouri/flickr.com

Unclear boundaries of press freedom

Growing access to information

Competition between old and new journalistic actors (e.g. media outlets, journalists organisation)

Boom in new media

Fierce economic situation

Redefinition of relations to the field of power


Re-Defining Modes of Holding the Media to Acocunt

Political accountability(still strong but fading away)

Market accountability(growing)

Public accountability(growing)

Professional accountability(under discussion)

Media

Modes of media accountability

Source: Adapted from Bardoel/D‘Haenens 2004


Session 13 - Introduction

The Case of TunisiaFast media liberalization since the revolution in January 2011

Abolishing the Minis-try of Information and free-zing the main censor institutions (ATCE & ATI)

Revisions of a new press and media law

Creation of a national body for information and com-munication reform (INRIC)

2011 2011 2011 2012

Passing a law for access to information

Drafting regulations for an audiovisual regulatory body (HAICA)

20112011

Licensing of 12 new radio and 5 new television stations

Source: Adapted from Pies/Nedjaa 2013


Status Quo of Self-Regulation in TunisiaAll under discussion in 2013

Codes of Ethics Tunisian Journalists Association (SNJT) has revised its code of ethics Several other codes are under discussion

Press council / Media council A law for establishing a media council has been drafted – conditions and

terms are still under discussion

Ombudsmen Still don‘t exist but have been debated

Media journalism Still weak but growing in importance particularly on issues of press freedom


Perception of Self-Regulation by Tunisian Journalists

Results from the MediaAcT-Survey (2012)1. Split about sanctions2. Scepticism towards formal institutions for regulation e.g. press councils3. Strong support for responsible media

%80

48

39

7

39

39

0 20 40 60 80 100

Journalistic responsibility is aprerequisite for press freedom.

Formal systems of media self-regulation are open to abuse for…

To be effective, self-regulation mustinclude some form of sanction.

"Disgaree", "Totally disagree"

"Agree", "Fully agree"

%


Nawaat.org bloggers‘ platform

Arab Working Group for Media Monitoring

Media Accountability Initiatives by CitizensTunisian examples

AimAdjusting the news agenda to the „real“ needs of society. Collaborative work by journalists and bloggers.

AimMonitoring of media coverage to evaluate fair and balanced reporting. Supporting free and fair elections.

Screenshot: www.nawaat.org

Screenshot: www.awgmm.org


… provide a contact for complaints

… employ an ombudsman

… respond to users comments

… provide opportunites to directly communicate with journalists via social

media

2.5 3 3.5 4 4.5

News outlets should …

Tunisia

Means

Tunisian journalists support MA mechanisms by the audience

Public Accountability: A Growing Accountability Mechanism

Results from the MediaAcT Survey (2012)


Tunisia and Jordan: Common Features

Public accountability plays an important role to counterbalance MA from the field of powerTo redefine the profession vis à vis societal needs

Transparency is still lackingDue to insecure political situation Due to fear of looking unprofessional

Formal institutions of MA are ambivalentFor fear of political hijackingFor loosing control over professional rules

Alternative agenda setting and watching the media from outside media organisations is important


References

Ferjani, R. 2011a. Transparency is the Order of the Day. Interview on Qantara.de, http://en.qantara.de/Transparency-Is-the-Order-of-the-Day/16972c17424i1p77/index.html

Ferjani, R. 2011b. All the sides of censorship: Online media accountability practices in pre-revolutionary Tunisia, http://www.mediaact.eu/fileadmin/user_upload/WP4/MediaAcT_Working_Paper_Tunisia.pdf

Ferjani, R. 2011b. Tunisia. The Clash of Texts and Contexts. In: Mapping Media Accountability – in Europe and Beyond, edited by Eberwein T. et al., 181-193. Köln: von Halem Verlag.

Hawatmeh, G. and J. Pies. 2011. Media Accountability under the Patronage of the Regime – The Case of Jordan. In: Mapping Media Accountability – in Europe and Beyond, edited by Eberwein T. et al., 101-113. Köln: von Halem Verlag.

Pies, J. 2013. Media accountability in transition: Results from Jordan and Tunisia. In: Journalists and Media Accountability. An International Study of News People in the Digital Age, edited by Fengler, S. et al. (Hg.) New York et al. Peter Lang.

Pies, J. and A. Nedjaa. 2013. Media Landscapes in Transition: Jordan and Tunisia. In: How fragile is media credibility? Research Magazine MediaAcT, http://www.yumpu.com/document/view/15922335/mediaact

Pies, J. and P. Madanat. 2011. Beyond State Regulation: How Online Practices Contribute to Holding the Media Accountable in Jordan. In: MediaAcT Working Paper Series, 5/2011, http://www.mediaact.eu/fileadmin/user_upload/WP4/WP4_Jordan.pdf

http://en.qantara.de/Transparency-Is-the-Order-of-the-Day/16972c17424i1p77/index.html

http://www.mediaact.eu/fileadmin/user_upload/WP4/MediaAcT_Working_Paper_Tunisia.pdf

http://www.yumpu.com/document/view/15922335/mediaact

http://www.mediaact.eu/fileadmin/user_upload/WP4/WP4_Jordan.pdf

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