Jordan Times
Friday, July 21, 2006
AmmanNet project
promotes Internet radio in Gulf countries
BY Mahmoud Habboush
AMMAN — The first Arab Internet-based radio
station, AmmanNet, on Thursday completed a training course for 14 journalists
from the six Arab Gulf Cooperation Council countries and Yemen.
The radio station is currently carrying out a project to establish nine radio
stations in these countries, according to the station’s director, Dawoud Kuttab.
The one-year project, funded by US-based International Endowment for Democracy,
is designed to assist young journalists establish Internet radio.
“Most of media organisations in these countries are owned by the governments, so
this is a chance for them to have private stations in a legal way,” said Kuttab.
He said the training course constitutes phase one of the project.
Each of the trainees will be given three months to start trial radio stations on
temporary websites, he said.
“The stations’ coordinators will return to Amman for a five-day training course
and then launch their e-radios from permanent websites,” said Kuttab.
He added that at the end of the course, AmmanNet would provide the trainees with
necessary equipment, including digital recorders.
“AmmanNet received wide recognition for being able to broadcast independent
radio in a country that banned independent radio stations,” said Kuttab.
Private radio stations were banned in Jordan prior to the introduction of the
Audiovisual Media Law and the Audiovisual Commission in 2002.
The law eliminated public sector domination of the radio and TV sector, opening
the door for private entrepreneurs.
AmmanNet was established in November 2000 and was initially sponsored by UNESCO
and the Greater Amman Municipality.
In July 2005, AmmanNet began broadcasting to the residents of Amman on 92.4 FM.
“We’re proud to share our experience with the Arab world,” said Minister of
Political Development and Parliamentary Affairs Sabri Rbeihat at the course’s
graduating ceremony yesterday.
“Through mass media, we can reach out to people and deliver precise information
because without having enough information people will not be able to take part
in political activities,” he said, adding that the ministry is exerting efforts
to encourage political participation in the country.