Ad-Dustour ‘needs JD3m to end its financial crisis’

AMMAN – Ad-Dustour Chief Editor Mohammad Tal on Wednesday appealed to His Majesty King Abdullah to “rescue” the newspaper from a financial crisis that may lead to its closure.

In an article published on the front page of Jordan’s oldest newspaper, Tal said JD3 million or “maybe less” would be enough to end the daily’s financial crisis, which has left journalists and workers without salaries for nearly seven months. 

The chief editor noted that some journalists face legal action for defaulting on bank loan payments, and employees are also unable to meet the daily needs of their families. 

Tal highlighted the financial crisis of the newspaper is at its peak these days, and the recent government decision to increase advertisement rates it pays to newspapers is not enough to rescue the daily as such revenues will be generated in a year, “when it will be too late to save the newspaper and its employees”.  

Awni Daoud, managing editor of Ad-Dustour’s economic section, told The Jordan Times on Wednesday that employees are suffering difficult financial conditions due to the worsening fiscal situation at the daily, noting that some employees are unable to go to work as they cannot afford transportation costs. 

“Several colleagues have defaulted on their mortgage payments and are now wanted by the judiciary,” Daoud said. 

Asked whether the newspaper could recover permanently if it secures cash flow, Daoud said the administration has taken measures to reduce the number of employees and cut operational costs, which would bring back profitability to the daily in the short term. 

“The cash is needed to pay the salaries of employees as the newspaper may make profits or break even by the end of the year,” he added, noting that the number of employees has gone down from over 600 to 270.

The monthly bill of salaries is estimated to cost JD150,000 at the moment, down from JD300,000. 

Daoud described the current situation of Ad-Dustour as “a car that needs a push to operate”.