Al Rai journalists pledge to maintain objective editorial line

AMMAN — Journalists at Al Rai daily on Thursday pledged to continue to offer readers objective and professional reporting on issues of concern to the public. 

In interviews with The Jordan Times, they said the leading Jordanian newspaper's editorial policies will be aimed at serving the cause of truth as well as the interests of the nation and the public.

The Arabic daily, commonly known as a pro-government newspaper, has witnessed a drastic change in its coverage over the past few days by running articles critical of Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour's government due to disputes on some issues affecting the financial and administrative performance of the Jordan Press Foundation, which publishes Al Rai and The Jordan Times. 

Dhaher Damen, a managing editor, said Al Rai has always been the newspaper of the country and not the mouthpiece of the government. 

Citing the shift in reporting, Damen said the recent approach will be a motive for all journalists and senior editors to adopt an objective and professional line that highlights the concerns of the public and the interests of the Kingdom "whether the government likes it or not".

Taha Abu Reden, an editor at the Arabic daily, stressed that Al Rai will continue to be objective and neutral in its coverage — highlighting both achievements and failures — even when the dispute with the government is resolved.

“It will carry balanced news,” Abu Reden added. 

Editor Mohammad Maaita acknowledged that the shift in reporting has sparked public scepticism about whether criticism of the government would continue. 

“I believe the recent change in policies is the founding stage for a new phase in the history of the newspaper to be based on objectivity, accuracy and balanced reporting,” Maaita said, indicating that the daily’s chief editor is aware now that its professional image cannot be subject to compromises. 

Journalists have more responsibilities now as they have to dig for information and news that is of interest to readers, he noted. 

Mohammad Zyoud, an Al Rai reporter, noted that the current shift in coverage is not because journalists are angry with the government, but because this is the way it should be. 

Self-censorship among journalists, which used to affect the quality of reporting, has vanished, and they will no longer accept government meddling in the paper’s content and editorial policies, Zyoud said. 

At a meeting with his staff late Wednesday, Al Rai Chief Editor Samir Hiyari urged journalists to continue their “objective” approach even if the dispute with decision makers is resolved, as a way to gain public support and not jeopardise the image of the newspaper, founded in 1971.