Jordan Times
Friday, September 17, 2004
'Ask the Government' online
forum receives 10,000 hits a day — official
AMMAN (JT) — The Jordan Information Centre (JIC) is studying how to create a new
outlet for journalists under its “Ask the Government” online forum, an official
said.
According to Osama Farah, <www.jordan.jo> administrator, around 30 per cent of
the questions received through the recently launched website are from
journalists.
“We are thinking of creating usernames for local newspaper representatives, who
can post their questions publicly on the site on different issues and later
receive the answers from officials,” Farah told The Jordan Times in a recent
interview.
He said non-Jordanian reporters would not be included in the programme, but gave
no further details.
Mohammad Najjar, a reporter for Al Sabeel weekly, said he had sent around 27
questions to the site so far, but officials answered only a few of them.
“Some officials do not feel comfortable answering reporters' questions,” Najjar
admitted.
“Ask the Government,” which currently receives 10,000 hits a day, has answered
414 queries out of 875 since it was launched.
According to Farah, the highest response rates come from the Prime Ministry, the
government spokesperson's office and the Civil Service Bureau.
In order to promote the website, JIC launched several campaigns on radio and
television before the launch “to make sure the function of the site is well
understood.” “[Ask the Government] is a real portrayal of the transparency in
the government-citizen relationship,” said JIC Media Relations Director Jihan
Rasekh.
Several people who were asked if they knew about the site, said they had heard
about it but were intrigued with the idea and plan to send questions of their
own.
Experts have pointed to the absence of censorship on the website, but added that
users are asked to adhere to appropriate language and not to slander anyone.
They described the questions published on the site as “candid.” For example, one
visitor inquired about a certain corruption case at a government department.
Officials answered by saying that the case was dealt with, and urged citizens
who have additional information on the case to come forward.
In the early days of the Internet, NETS, now Batelco Jordan, launched a similar
forum, accessible only to its subscribers.
In addition to the forum, the site features an extensive news section, covering
local, regional and international issues. Visitors can also enjoy listening to
Amman FM, watch Jordan Television and find out about the latest books.