Article 1: This law is the law of the Press Association for the year 1998 and is to be valid from its date of publication in the official newspaper.

Transcription

1 Jordanian Press Association Law no.15 for the year 1998 Press Association Law 1 Article 1: This law is the law of the Press Association for the year 1998 and is to be valid from its date of publication in the official newspaper. Article 2:The following words and expressions, wherever they are mentioned, shall have the following specified meanings unless the context indicates otherwise. Ministry: Ministry of information. Minister: Minister of information. Department: Press & Publication department. Director: Director of Pres and Publication department. Association: Press Association. Head: Head of the Association. Council: Association Council. Occupation: Journalism. Journalist: Association member who is registered in the journalists record and has taken journalism as a profession according to the verdicts of this law. Member: the journalist who is registered in the association according to the verdicts of this law. Media Institution: any person who issues a printed journal. This expression does not include official institutions, parties, clubs, associations, societies, schools, and universities, local and diplomatic commissions that issue a printed journal. Article 3: A-According to the verdicts of this law, an association is established in the Kingdom called (Press Association) which enjoys legal personality and has the right to own and sell transitable and intransitable property to achieve its goals and aims and to deal with it by any means. It has the right to take people to court or be taken to court according to 1

2 the laws and regulations. It is represented by its head in the courts and in front of others and has the right to deputize any lawyer in the legal and judicial actions. B- The Association s main headquarters are located in Amman and it can establish branches in any of the cities of the Kingdom by a resolution from the council. Article 4: The Association practices its activities to achieve the following: A- Enabling journalists to perform their journalist duties and works to guarantee them the needed freedom to perform this duty according to the verdicts of this law and within the frame of the moral and national responsibility. B- Maintaining the rules of conduct of the occupation, its principles, traditions, regulating its practice, working to upgrade its level, develop it and train journalists. C- Participating with all media institutions in spreading humanitarian knowledge and culture in all its distinguished forms and enhancing awareness of the citizen s responsibilities and humanitarian values stemming from the Arab Islamic civilization. D- Enhancing relations and cooperation among Jordanian journalists in order to upgrade the occupation and working to settle any work related conflicts. E- Enhancing relations and cooperation with Arab journalists Union and Arab and foreign press associations. F- Protecting the members professional rights and providing them with social security to face cases of old age, disability and death without that affecting their right in receiving any other retirement salary and providing them with health care to guarantee them and their families decent life. In addition to establishing clubs and cooperative societies for its members and its administration. Article 5: To be registered in the association, a person shall be: A- Jordanian national. B- Not convicted with a misdemeanor or felony. C- Enjoys full legal capacity.. D- Has one of the following qualifications from an accredited college or university: 1.Phd in media or journalism. 2.M.A degree or high diploma in journalism with a six-months practice. 3.BA degree in journalism with a one-year practice.

3 4. Diploma certificate in journalism with two years practice. 5. At least a BA degree in any other specialization and two years practice. 6. Diploma certificate in any specialization other than journalism and three years practice. 7. General Secondary School certificate or any other equivalent certificate and a minimum of four years practice. E- Anyone who holds qualifications less than those mentioned above and worked in journalism inside Jordan before the implementation of this law for not less than eight years. Those to which this paragraph applies must correct their status within a maximum period of six months of the law implementation. F- To be a full time journalist. Article 6: A- Training for the profession is accepted according to this law in the following two cases: 1. In case of actual practice in any media institution or official media institution. 2. If the training is done in any college specialized in journalism inside or outside the Kingdom. B- This condition doesn t apply to the trainees who are registered at thee association before the implementation of this law. Article 7: Journalists registered at the association at the time of implementing this law are equal to those who registered at it according to its verdicts. Article 8: For the goals of this law, the following are considered a practice of journalism: A-The editor in chief, director general, editor, photographer, cartoonist, correspondent or reporter of a Jordanian press institution. B-The editor, reporter or correspondent of a news agency that is officially accredited in the Kingdom or a reporter who is accredited for a media publication. C-The editor in chief, director general, editor, photographer, cartoonist, correspondent or reporter at the ministry or any official media department or institution. D- The teacher of journalism at a Jordanian university.

4 E- The work of a registered journalist in any media position at the ministry or any official media department. Article 9: The Council can, with the approval of the minister, allow any journalist of any Arab or foreign nationality to practice journalism in the Kingdom at a location and of duration it specifies on the condition of having a similar legal text in the legislation of the other country. The journalist shall meet the following conditions: A-to have the right to practice journalism in his country and to have a license of that. B-to have an official permission to live and work in the Kingdom for a period not less than a year. Article 10: A-A membership application must be filled and accompanied by documents is presented to the Association and is considered accepted if the council does not issue a decision on it within 30 days of its application. C- The council informs the minister and the applicant of its decision. Article 11: Taking into consideration the verdicts of article (7) and (14) of this law, the membership of the journalist is cancelled through a resolution of the council if it was proved that he did not meet a membership condition or more from those mentioned in this law when he was accepted or after his acceptance. Article 12. Anyone accepted as member in the association is allowed to practice journalism after: A- Swearing in before the minister and head of the council to be loyal to the country and the King, practice work professionally and respect laws related to the profession. B- Pay the specified fees to the association. C- Be registered in the list of practicing journalists. Article 13. The council organizes a list of the registered journalist within the 30 days that precede the council s elections. Article 14. A. The association prepares the following list: 1. Practicing journalists 2. Non-practicing journalists 3. Journalists under training

5 4. Non-Jordanian journalists who were given a license according to the verdicts of this law. B. A journalist s name is moved from a practicing journalists list to the non- practicing journalists list in any of the following cases: 1. If he does not pay the annual fees for two consecutive years. 2. If he actually stops practicing the profession for more than a year. 3. If he lived abroad and worked as journalist for a non- Jordanian newspaper for more than two years. C. Any member on which conditions mentioned in items (2,3, and 4) of paragraph B of this article apply, shall inform the council of this in writing within a period of not more 60 days of its occurrence. D. A journalist name is moved from the non-practicing journalists list to the practicing journalists list upon his written request to the council after he meets the stated conditions and pays the specified fees. E. A journalists membership is cancelled if he was listed as a non-practicing journalist for more than 5 consecutive years. F. Any cancelled membership according to the verdict of this law can only be returned after presenting a new application that meets the conditions mentioned in article (5) of this law. Article 15: The minister, director, applicant or any association member can appeal at the Supreme Court on the resolutions issued by the council according to articles (10, 12, 14) of this law. Article 16: A- Any media institution in the Kingdom can t hire any person for a journalist s work unless he is enlisted in the practicing journalist list. B- A media institution can accept a trainee of journalism on condition of having the scientific qualifications mentioned in this law and being registered in the trainees list of the association according to the Council s regulations. C. The council has the right to take any procedure to check if the training is done according to the regulations and it can omit the name of the uncommitted trainee from its trainees list.

6 D. The trainee is given a training certificate from the association after passing the council s test. The council can extend the training period according to the recommendations of the examining committee for a period that doesn t exceed the original training period. Article 17: Only journalists enlisted a practicing journalists list at the association can benefit from the facilities and advantages granted to journalists by public authorities or missions to enable them to practice their profession. Article 18: A- Only practicing journalists or those mentioned in article (9) of this law can work as correspondents. B. The association issues journalists identity cards according to its records. C. Anyone who violates the verdicts of paragraph A here is punished with a fine of JD or by imprisonment for 1-3 months or by both along with a verdict to remove the violation. The punishment is doubled in case of repeated action. Article 19: The general board of the association is formed from all Jordanians enlisted in the practicing journalists list of the association and have the following authorities and responsibilities: A- Electing head and members of the council according to the verdicts of this law. B- Approving of the final accounts of the ending year and endorsing the New Year s budget. C- Discussing the administrative, financial and professional reports related to the council s work and issuing the needed resolutions on them. D- Discussing any issues suggested by the council or a number of members on condition of informing the council 30 days ahead of the meeting date. Article 20: The general board holds one regular meeting during the year in April. Article 21: A- The general board holds irregular meetings upon a call from the head of the council, the council, or a request of one third of the general board. The Council shall call the general board for a meeting within a period that doesn t exceed 30 days of receiving the request. B- The issues to be discussed shall be listed in the invitations to the meeting and no other issues should be discussed.

7 Article 22: In any meeting, the general board is formed from the members who paid all their due fees for the association within a period not less a week before the meeting. Article 23: The director is invited to any regular or irregular meeting held by the general board a week ahead of the meeting date. Article 24: Head of the association or his deputy head the meetings of the general board, in case of their absence the secretary heads the meeting or otherwise the eldest member heads the meeting. Article 25: A-When the legal number of the general board is complete, head and members of the Council are elected in two separate papers. B. To win as head, the candidate must receive the highest votes and a majority is enough. In case of an equivalent votes a ballot is performed. C. Members of the council are elected by a majority and increase of equivalent votes a ballot is performed. Article 26: A- The legal number for any regular meeting for the general boars is the majority of members who have the right to take part in the meeting. In case of lack of quorum, within an hour of the meeting time, another meeting is held within 7-15 days and is considered legal regardless of the number of attendees. B. In the irregular meeting of the general board, a majority has to attend or the meeting request is refused. C. The general board takes its decisions by majority and in case of an equivalent votes, the votes of the head of the meeting will prevail. D. The general board resolutions are registered in a special record kept at the association and signed by the head of the meeting and the secretary. Article 27. The council is formed from the head and 10 members to be elected according to the verdicts of this law and for a period of 3 years. Article 28: A- Nomination for head and membership is open for 15 days and closed 3 days ahead of the elections date. Nomination is done on a special form specified by the council and is presented to the council in exchange for a receipt signed by the association s administrative official or any other employee appointed by the council for this goal.

8 B. The names of the nominees are announced on a special board at the association on the next day after the period of the nomination ends. Article 29: A- Anyone who wants to nominate himself for the head of the council position: 1. Must not be a working minister, government official or an employee at an international mission or foreign institution. 2. Must not be older than 35 years of age. 3. Was registered in the practicing journalists list of the association for not less than ten years. 4. Must not be an employee or correspondent for a non-jordanian newspaper or news agency. 5. Shall not be elected for more than two consecutive cycles but he can be elected if one cycle passes on his pervious period 6. To pay for the association fund un refunded nomination fee of JD100. B-Anyone who wants to nominate himself for the council s membership: 1- Must not be older than 35 years of age. 2- Registered at the practicing journalists list for at least 5 years. 3-must not be an employee at an international mission or foreign Institution or correspondent for a non-jordanian newspaper or News agency. 4-to pay for the association fund un refunded nomination fee of JD20. C-The record of the persons nominated for the head position or membership shall be free of any disciplinary decision that prevents them from practicing the profession. Article30:

9 A-When all the legal conditions are met for the elections, the general board chooses a five-persons committee to implement the procedures of election, counting votes and announcing the results. B- The election committee mentioned in A above chooses a head from its members to control the meeting in cooperation with the committee and all voting papers shall be signed by him and stamped by the association s stamp before distributing them. C-The committee looks into any objections during the elections. D-All voting papers are kept at the association and the council can destroy them after six months of the elections. Article 31: A- Voting is confidential and the voter can t put any mark on the voting paper that indicates his name, signature or anything that reveals his identity. B- The voting paper is not considered valid if it includes anything against general morals or was unreadable. In any paper that contains more names than the required number for any position, the extra names will be neglected. Article 32: The procedure and regulatory matters related to the general board meetings or elections are specified by the internal system of the association. Article 33: A- In the first meeting of the council after the elections, the council chooses a deputy for its head, secretary and a cashier and a deputy for each. B- Through secret ballot, the council forms the following from members of the general board: 1. Membership committee of five members. 2. Disciplinary committee of three members and the council can chose one or more additional members to take part in the council if any original member was absent. 3. Any other committees that the council considers necessary for the work of the association. C- The membership committee studies the requests for membership and gives its recommendations to the council. D- Disciplinary committee takes any necessary disciplinary actions against members and trainees.

10 E- The council appoints head for the disciplinary committee and for each of the committees formed by the verdicts of this article from the members elected for each committee. F- The legal number for any committee meeting is the attendance of the majority and head of each committee. As for the disciplinary committee, all its members shall attend. Article 34: Other regulations regarding the disciplinary committee and other committees are specified by the internal system of the association. Article 35: A- The council holds its meetings at dates specified upon invitations from head of the association. The council can hold irregular meetings, if necessary, upon invitation from head of the association or by a request of the majority members. B- The secretary of the association prepares the agenda of the council s meeting, registers its proceedings and resolutions and prepares them for signature by head and members of the council who attended the meeting. Deputy head performs all the duties of the council s head during his absence. C- Any meeting of the council is considered legal with the attendance of six of its members and the head or his deputy. Any decision shall be approved by the majority. Article 36: The council has the following authorities and responsibilities: A-The administration of the association s administrative and financial affairs of the association according to the verdicts of this law and this includes any fund or institution belonging to the association. B-Considering membership applications and issuing resolutions on them. D- Preparing the annual assumed budget of the association and presenting them to the general board. E- Preparing the draft special laws of the association. F- Maintaining the principles of the profession. G- Calling the general board for meetings and implementing its resolutions. H- Providing help in solving professional differences among association members or between association members and other missions. I- Representing the association in front of others.

11 Article 37: The council is responsible for: A- Employing people to work at the association and signing contracts with experts to perform any duties related to the association interest and achieving its goals. B- Providing the materials needed for the association. C- Acting with transitive money, which the association doesn t need. D- Accepting donations and aid on the condition of having the cabinet s approval if these were from non-jordanian parties. E- Establishing administrative, financial and organizational regulations, which guarantee the work, flow at the association. Article38: A-If the head of the association resigns, dies or was not able to perform his duties for any reason, his deputy performs his duties and the general board elects another head within a period that doesn t exceed 60 days of this according to the verdicts f this law for the remaining time of the council s period if this period exceeds one year. B-If the deputy, secretary or cashier or any of their deputies resigns, dies or was unable to perform his duties for any reason; the council chooses a replacement for them from its members. Article 39: Head or member of the council loses his position in any of the following cases: 1.death. 2.resignation. 3.In case of absence, without an excuse accepted by the council, for three consecutive meetings or seven non-consecutive meetings. 4.If he loses any of the conditions that qualify him to become a member or it was obvious to the council that he didn t meet any of these conditions when elected. Article 40: A-If a vacancy becomes available at the council for any reason; the nominated person who received the highest votes after those who won the elections becomes a member. Head of the council notifies him within a period that doesn t exceed 7 days of the vacancy and is invited to attend the meetings. It this wasn t possible, the council chooses a member of the general board from those who meet the conditions for the

12 council membership. The number of members appointed in this manner shall not exceed four or otherwise the council must call the general board for electing a new council within a period that doesn t exceed 60 days of the fifth vacancy in the council to continue the remaining period of the council. Article 41: If compelling circumstances prevented electing a new council, the old council continues to perform its duties until the general board chooses a new council. Article 42: A journalist must not: A-Practice another work other than journalism including business or representing companies in their trade or industrial work. B-Be a member in two associations. C-Practice the profession in illegal manner that violates laws. D-Behave in a way that contradicts with the dignity of the profession or harms the association or its members. E-Violate the traditions of the profession in dealing with other members. F-Accept any rewards or aid in any way. Article 43: The journalist is committed to reserving his secret resources and in inspecting the credibility of the information and news before publishing them. Article 44: The journalist should be granted all suitable facilities by the department he works at, for or with and should not be stopped or arrested for doing his duties unless he performs it in a manner that includes a criminal action. Article 45: A-Public prosecution should inform the association in case of interrogating with any journalist and the association has the right to send a representative to attend the investigation. B- Public prosecution should inform the association on its decision (results of interrogation) with any journalist in any issue. Article (46): A- If a journalist or a trainee in the public or private sectors violates the items of this law of behaves in unacceptable way during doing his duty, he will face the following punishment:

13 - Notification - Warning. - He will be prevented from practicing the job for a period doesn t exceed three years. - His name will be cancelled from the list of the journalists or trainee journalists and he will not be allowed to practice the profession at all. B- Council of the association has the right to allow the to ask the specialized parties to interrogate the journalist who commits a violation which deserves to be considered and punished. C- A Journalist who is suspended cannot practice the profession temporarily and this period is not included in the duration for retirement or nomination for the association council. Article 47. A-Disciplinary complaint is submitted to the council in writing by: 1) The minister or director general. 2) A journalist 3) Any other person - B. Complaint shall be submitted to the head of the association who shall call the journalist or trainee subject of the complaint to respond to the complaint within 15 days. Head of the association has the right to refer the complaint to the disciplinary committee if there was a need. C. The council has the right to refer any journalist or trainee to the disciplinary council if he behaves in a manner that does not conform with duties of the a journalist. Article 48: A- The disciplinary committee can use any suitable way for interrogation, which it feels, will guarantee justice and complaint subject can appoint an attorney to defend him. The committee has the right to see witnesses and in case they fail to come, the committee can use legal action to bring them for hearing.

14 B- If the witness refuses to testify or lies the committee decides to refer him to the court and in such a case he is dealt with as if he has done the action or given false testimony in front of a legal court. C- The association council, based on the disciplinary committee resolution can stop the journalist or trainee from practicing the profession temporarily until the final decision is issued. D- The disciplinary committee issues its decisions on the complaint within a period that does not exceed 45 days of the complaint submission. E- The sessions of the disciplinary committee are confidential; its verdicts are not to be published before being finalized. F- The decision of the disciplinary committee is subject for the council s approval, which can decide to publish, or not according to the interest of the association and the profession. Article 49: The disciplinary committee shall take punitive measures against the journalist or trainee who is convicted in a crime or misdemeanor. This verdict is like a recommendation to incriminate him by the disciplinary committee and impose any suitable punishment on him. Article 50: The punitive decision is subject to be defied at the Supreme Court of Justice. Article 51: Any one who is not committed by the disciplinary decision that prevents him from practicing the profession, is punished by the specialized court with a fine of JD and in case of repeated action the fine is doubled. Article 52: The general board resolutions are subject to be defied at the Supreme Court. Article 53: The council can nominate any registered journalist to perform a professional service for the interest of the association including: A. Taking part in any seminar organized by the association.

15 B. Taking part in organizing conferences. C. Perform any duties requested by the council to achieve the goals of the association including taking part in any committee formed by the council for this goal. Article 54: The fiscal year of the association starts on January 1st and ends on December 31st of the same year. Article 55: A- The financial sources of the association include:!. Registration fees, re-registration fees, nomination fees and annual subscription. 2. Annual subscription of the newspapers. 3.1 per cent of the newspaper s announcements. 4.The funds of the association, which aim at achieving the association s objectives. 5.Rewards, aid, local resources etc, which are approved by the council. 6.Foreign resources such as rewards and aid which are approved by the cabinet. 7.The Association s investments. B. Except items (5,6,7) of paragraph (A) of this article, other resources should be specified and dealt with according to the internal system of the association or any regulations established for this goal. Article 56: All the agreements between the association and any foreign party should be approved by the cabinet. Article 57:After issuing this law, the current association council continues its works until April of the year that follows issuing this law where a new council is elected according to its verdicts. Article 58: The cabinet issues the necessary regulations to organize the association s affairs including establishing special funds for retirement, cooperation, social security, health insurance and housing. Article 59: Law of journalists association for the year 1953 and any regulations issued upon it is cancelled.

16 Article 60: The prime minister and ministers are entrusted in implementing the verdicts of this law.