Constitutional and Legal Guarantees Related to Freedom of the Press and Media in the Jordanian Legal System

Abstract

Freedom of press and media is a key component of the right to freedom of expression, which enjoys constitutional protection and guaranteed by international human rights standards, foremost of which is the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which Jordan ratified and published in the Official Gazette. The importance of freedom of press and media stems from the essential role it plays as an oversight authority, and as a means to communicate information and facts to individuals, which contributes to enabling them to form positions and opinions on issues that concern them. Exercising this important role requires providing constitutional and legal guarantees so that workers in this profession can work without fear of accountability. Hence, this research came to address the most prominent legal guarantees in the national legislative system that ensured exercising freedom of press and media and addresses the most prominent problems related to the legislative environment that may limit the press and media from carrying out the duties entrusted to them and to provide the necessary recommendations in this context.