In unprecedented twist, Al Rai runs anti-gov’t articles

AMMAN – Al Rai, Jordan’s leading Arabic daily, took an unprecedented twist in its editorial line on Tuesday, publishing articles critical of the government of Prime Minister Abdullah Ensour.

The usually pro-government newspaper, published by the Jordan Press Foundation (JPF), rarely criticises state policies. The shift in reporting follows two days of boycotting government news over what the editorial team calls the "negative response" of decision makers towards key issues threatening the financial stability of the foundation.

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 for 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 the project 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 Biqaei to be replaced.

The rare edition 

According to Dhaher Damen, an Al Rai managing editor in charge of editing the front page, Tuesday's edition included "harsh coverage" of some "hot issues". 

The front page of the newspaper featured a report on government interference in the policies of public universities, which Damen said are supposed to be financially and administratively independent. 

Another item on the front page covered the visit of Ensour and his ministerial team to Ajloun Governorate, but instead of highlighting the premier's speech, the daily interviewed several MPs from various governorates who said government field visits are just a show and aim at gaining publicity. 

In the economic section, the paper published a story on the government's economic policies and tackled an issue related to Fourth Generation services provided by telecom operators, with the report charging that authorities are sponsoring a monopoly in the sector. 

Even in the sports pages, Al Rai had a critical report on the government’s “insufficient” support so far for the U-17 Women’s World Cup, which the Kingdom is hosting in 2016. 

The writer of the article accused the government of only offering “attractive” promises but delivering nothing on the ground to help the football association prepare for the international event. 

‘It’s not a reaction’ 

Khalil Shobaki, assistant chief editor at Al Rai, told The Jordan Times that Tuesday’s coverage was not a reaction to government’s “reluctance” to address problems facing the daily, but an approach “to assert its status as an objective newspaper that focuses on issues of concern to the public”.

“Reporting of wrong government policies will continue as the newspaper should play its role as the fourth estate even if the dispute comes to an end,” Shobaki added, noting that protocol or public relations government news should no longer appear on the front page.    

Objective and professional reporting of hot issues will continue to be the approach of Al Rai, he said.