Main JMI newsroom named after former JT editor Jennifer Hamarneh

AMMAN — HRH Princess Rym Al Ali attended a ceremony on Tuesday to name the Jordan Media Institute’s (JMI) main newsroom after former Jordan Times editor Jennifer Hamarneh.

During the ceremony, Princess Rym removed a curtain covering the plaque with Hamarneh’s name.

The newsroom is equipped with modern computers and the latest technology employed in media and journalism.

The princess paid tribute to the late Hamarneh, who passed away in April after a long battle with cancer, highlighting her role in educating new generations of journalists whether at The Jordan Times or elsewhere.

She also highlighted the editor’s contributions as a member of the JMI board, commending her role in enhancing the professionalism of media practitioners in the country.

Hamarneh, who worked at the JT for around 15 years, served as chief editor between 2002 and 2007. She was diagnosed with cancer in 2006.

The naming preceded the graduation ceremony of the sixth batch of JMI MA programme students, which saw 20 students earning their master’s degree in journalism.

This raises to 122 the number of JMI graduates since the institute was founded by Princess Rym in 2006.

Speaking at the graduation, JMI Dean Basim Tweissi said 70 per cent of these graduates now work in professional organisations in 20 countries around the world.

The JMI, he said, is working on expanding cooperation programmes and enhancing study plans in its thesis and non-thesis MA tracks, highlighting the benefits gained by visits to and exchange programmes with various international institutes and organisation including in countries such as Norway, Sweden, Austria, Lebanon and Latvia.

Tweissi also spoke about Hamarneh, describing her as one of the top defenders of the media, who worked towards enhancing professionalism in the sector. 

Her dedication to the profession, he said, is why the JMI board decided to name the main newsroom after her.

Al Ghad Chief Editor Jumana Ghneimat also addressed the graduation ceremony.

Ghneimat, the first female chief editor of an Arabic daily in Jordan (Rana Sabbagh and Hamarneh were chief editors of JT), advised the graduates to fight to achieve their aspirations and to fight for freedom of expression, urging them to maintain their independence.

Frode Rekve, of the Norwegian Institute of Journalism, said the institute’s largest cooperation programmes outside Norway are with JMI, voicing pride in being part of programmes to educate journalists in Jordan and the Arab region.

He also stressed the importance of media freedom, noting that there is “no democracy without freedom of the press”. 

“Freedom is not dangerous; it is a little bit difficult,” Rekve added.