Deputising for Prime Minister and Minister of Defence Bisher Al Khasawneh, Minister of State for Media Affairs Sakher Dudin on Saturday attended the Jordan Press Foundation/Al Rai’s golden jubilee celebration, the Jordan News Agency, Petra, reported.  

Dudin conveyed the prime minister's greetings and congratulations on this occasion, describing Al Rai as "the icon of the press" and as a lofty national media edifice, which, over more than five decades, provided memorable services and national, intellectual, knowledge and cultural contributions. 

During the ceremony, attended by former prime minister Abdur-Rauf Rawabdeh, a number of national figures, directors of official media, and directors of departments in the newspaper, Dudin expressed hopes in overcoming the obstacles and challenges facing the newspaper’s work, so that "it remains an audible voice that expresses the nation’s conscience, people’s concerns, and the nation’s issues”.

He stressed that the government is "actively and seriously striving, in coordination and cooperation with all parties, to crystallise immediate, urgent and sustainable solutions” to solve the problems faced by Al Rai newspaper and its affiliated press institutions including the enhancement of its financial revenues. 

Dudin noted that administrations of all press institutions hold the responsibility for keeping pace with the developments of the times, and the requirements of modernity and digitisation, in terms of form and content as well as the gradual shift towards digital journalism. 

He stressed the need to develop digital content and employ modern technology, pointing out that the government is currently working on devising a plan to enhance legislative aspects and administrative structures of the media system. 

Dudin added that the plan will include regulating the flow of information and facilitating media access to it, highlighting that the government will work, in partnership with the Senate and Lower House to pass a law that guarantees the right to obtain information.

He also affirmed the government's commitment to raise the standards of independence, freedom, professionalism and responsibility, so that the media would remain a "national lever” and a reflection of the public interest.

Dudin pointed out that the celebration of the golden jubilee this year coincides with Jordan’s centenary which reflects the status of Al Rai as a mainstay of national media, and its history as a witness to the achievement in our beloved kingdom.

Al Rai has been an example of credibility, professionalism, transparency, standing with the nation, carrying its message, and defending its principles and positions, he said, recalling and honouring the founders of the newspaper. 

In turn, JPF Chairman of the Board of Directors Maher Madadha said that the newspaper represents "a torch of enlightenment" and is the story of a country that rose and faced all challenges. 

Praising its great role in defending the causes of the homeland and the nation, foremost of which is the Palestinian cause, he underlined the efforts of the newspaper's personnel to develop its work, and to overcome the obstacles and challenges. 

Former minister Jawad Anani also delivered a speech at the celebration, in which he expressed the status of the newspaper