A group of Jordanian bloggers are urging the country's ministers and other senior officials to increase their level of activity on the Internet to explain the government's stance on different issues.
In a meeting with Prime Minister Samir Rifai on Monday, bloggers from 7iber.com and other local blogs criticised what they described as a lack of officials' communication with online media outlets regarding issues of public interest.
"One of the problems facing us is that the government neither comments nor gives information to us," blogger Mariam Abu Adas told The Jordan Times over the phone yesterday.
She pointed out that although access to information on various issues and events in the Kingdom has become easy with the spread of new media, the public still lacks the government's viewpoint on issues of concern.
For example, Abu Adas said the government should make the draft elections law available on the Internet for bloggers and citizens to review and post their opinions to foster a discussion on the proposed legislation, expected to be drafted ahead of this year's parliamentary elections.
"In Jordan, we are witnessing many social issues such as tribal and university violence, and the government does not say anything... we need them to comment," the blogger noted.
She cited US President Barack Obama's administration as an example of officials who use social networking websites such as Facebook and Twitter to respond to people's questions and comments.
Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad has also been known to use social networking websites to reach out to the Iranian public, blogger Mohammad Omar noted.
In Jordan, Abu Adas said Minister of Energy and Mineral Resources Khalid Irani is among the most active officials online.
Minister of State for Media Affairs and Communications and Government Spokesperson Nabil Sharif agreed that more public outreach is needed online.
"Maybe we should raise the level of communications on the Internet; some of the ministers are present on Facebook and Twitter, for example, and I am one of them," Sharif told The Jordan Times in a phone interview yesterday.
He said the premier is "aware of the importance of communicating with citizens through all sorts of media, especially new media".
During the next two weeks, the e-government website will reactivate the "Ask the Government" service, which was recently suspended, according to Sharif. The service offers users the chance to ask ministers and officials questions regarding issues of public interest.
Rifai is also among Jordanian officials who are present online, which include Foreign Minister Nasser Judeh and Amman Mayor Omar Maani.
"I believe that today online communication is important, especially to be in contact with the younger generation," Judeh told The Jordan Times.
Judeh's experience with online social networking began in 1995, he pointed out.
While director general of the Jordan Radio and Television Corporation, Judeh said he communicated with the public through a private online forum called "Ask the Government".
After the idea was adopted by the e-government project, the minister used it when he became government spokesperson in 2005.
"I now monitor blogs personally and as an official, and sometimes I post my opinion on what is written," he pointed out.
Omar believes that "it is time for all officials to take the Internet seriously", noting that the medium can also provide the government with a wider audience.
"The government is required to take advantage of this, communicate with people and explain its points of view," he noted.
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Autor(en)/Author(s): Thameen Kheetan
Quelle/Source: Zawya, 22.04.2010
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