Some readers welcome Al Rai’s open gov’t criticism, others wary

AMMAN — Readers of Al Rai Arabic daily have mixed reactions over the new approach of the newspaper in publishing articles critical of the government. 

While some say they support the unprecedented change in the editorial line of Jordan's leading newspaper, others believe criticism of Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour's government may not continue when decision makers meet journalists' demands. 

Over the past three days, the daily, published by the Jordan Press Foundation (JPF), has been running articles critical of the government and its policies and has boycotted government news for five days over disagreements related to key issues threatening the financial stability of the JPF. 

The state-owned Social Security Investment Fund (SSIF) owns around 55 per cent of the shares of the foundation, which also publishes The Jordan Times.

The dispute with the government emerged as the Arabic daily’s employees accuse some SSIF-appointed board members of preparing a restructuring plan while failing to address the continuous fall in revenues, mainly generated from advertisements.

They accuse the board of failing to find a solution to the commercial printing press on the airport road, which cost over JD35 million, saying that it has drained the finances of the JPF with millions of dinars pumped into it every year. 

The employees want the printing press to be transformed into an independent company and sold to the Social Security Corporation, which they accuse of starting the project in order to help the JPF return to profitability.

They also want board members Abdul Hafiz Ajlouni, Mansour Nabulsi, Mohammad Tarawneh and MP Abdul Rahim Biqaai to be replaced.

What people say 

With many readers posting photos on Facebook of Al Rai pages that feature criticism of government policies, Hamed Abu Shindi commented that the new attitude “is surely making it a people’s favourite”. 

Saja Aqrabawi wrote on Facebook that Al Rai journalists started to write anti-government news because decision makers are not responding to their demands, while Belal Abu Tayeh said the newspaper used to be “the government’s mouthpiece” and never paid attention to public concerns. 

“It used to maximise and promote the government’s failed plans,” he wrote on his Facebook page, voicing hope that the paper would avoid past mistakes by taking the side of the public as readers are its true asset.

Anwar Nemr described the recent shift in reporting as a qualitative leap, calling on the editorial team and journalists to continue addressing important issues of concern to the people in a bid to gain their trust.   

Ibraheem Haddadin also said Al Rai should continue to cover public concerns and not be dominated by government protocol news.