Petra News Agency lays founding stone for media landscape – minister

AMMAN — The Jordan News Agency, Petra, on Thursday celebrated its 55th anniversary.

Attending the ceremony, Minister of Government Communications Muhannad Mubaidin said that Petra has contributed to creating a Jordanian media that conveyed the Kingdom's message during difficult times in the region at that time.

Mubaidin said that Petra witnessed the reign of His Majesty the late King Hussein, where the national news agency started with simple tools.

During His Majesty King Abdullah's reign, Petra has kept pace with technological and digital developments to become among the top regional news agencies, noting that Petra has hosted the media training centre of the Federation of Arab News Agencies since 2012.

Petra Director General Fairouz Mubaidin said that the news agency and other state institutions have witnessed "remarkable" development over the past 55 years and showcased Jordanians' achievements.

Deputy President of the Jordan Press Association Jamal Shtiwi said that Petra performs its duties with "confidence" to highlight the Kingdom's achievements and Jordanians' development at the political, social, and economic levels.

During the ceremony, the minister honoured several journalists who spent 25 years in the media sector. Then he toured the photo exhibition on the sidelines of the ceremony to review the early years of Petra and "important" events in the history of the Kingdom.