The Jordan Media Strengthening Program (JMSP), a USAID funded program, Al Isra’ Private University and the Annenberg School for Communication at the University of Pennsylvania have organized a two-day conference on “New Media Law and Policy” on Monday and Tuesday, December 1 & 2, 2008, at Al Isra’ University, Amman, Jordan.
The aim of the conference was to “to provide a forum for an open discussion of legal and regulatory issues related to “New Media” – news websites/portals, blogging and citizen journalism, web-TV, V-blogging etc”.
“NEW MEDIA LAW & POLICY”
December 1-2, 2008
Al Isra’ University (Airport Road)
The conference is in both Arabic and English, with full interpretation.
Monday, December 1
09:00-10:00 Registration and Coffee
10:00-10:15 Welcoming Remarks (Al Isra’ President Dr Mohammad Abu Gdais & Jordan Media Strengthening Program Chief of Party Sam Compton, IREX)
10:15-10:30 Key-Note Address TBD
10:30-10:45 Coffee Break
10:45-11:15 What is New Media?
Definitions of “New Media.” Is New Media just a new tool? Or is it also new content? What is citizen-journalism? What are the social and political implications of New Media globally and in Jordan? Is there a local-regional market?
Speakers: Ahmad Humeid, Co-founder, toot, CEO, Ikbis, Syntax
Qais Elias, Managing Partner, GreyScale
Moderator: Dr Sakher Khasawneh, Al Isra’ University
11:15-12:15 News Websites
What is the situation of local news websites? Where do they stand in terms of credibility? What’s their audience? Are they delivering a different/new content? Have they changed the content of traditional media? Do – and should – news websites feel ‘safe’ enough by having their server outside the Kingdom?
Speakers: Basil Okoor, co-founder, AmmonNews
Yahia Shukkeir, media freedoms and media law expert
Roufan Nahhas, Talal Abu Ghazaleh Organization
Moderator: Dr Ayman Halaseh, Al Isra’ University
12:15-12:30 Coffee Break
12:30-13:30 Old Laws, New Media
Do current ‘traditional media’ laws and regulations – starting from the Press and Publications Law – apply to news websites? An overview of recent cases involving New Media.
Speaker: Mohammad Quteishat, Media Lawyer
13:30-14:15 Government Policy on Internet Regulation
What’s the government’s policy/view on licensing/monitoring news websites? The 2007 Statement of Government Policy for ICT. The new Telecom and Media draft law. International trends and best practices.
Speakers: Wafa’ Bayaydeh, Commissioner, TRC
Douglas Griffin, JMSP Senior Legal Advisor
Moderator: Dr Hamdi Qubeilat, Al Isra’ University
14:15-15:15 Lunch and End of Day 1
Tuesday, December 2
10:00-11:00 Regulation and Self-Regulation in New Media
Pros and cons of regulation and self-regulation. What’s being done towards a code of ethics for new media? The legal value of self-regulation. Blogging and ethics. Self-censorship in the Jordanian blogosphere
Speakers: Dieter Loraine, Albany Associates
Mariam Abu Adas, Blogger, 7iber dot com
Daoud Kuttab, Director, Community Media Network
Douglas Griffin, JMSP Senior Legal Advisor
Moderator: Dr Sakher Khasawneh, Al Isra’ University
11:00-11:15 Coffee Break
11:15-12:15 New Media: Privacy, Intellectual Property and Consumer Protection
Protection of databases. New Media and Intellectual Property Rights. Protecting consumers and their privacy in the Internet age. How does Jordanian legislation protect consumers’ privacy?
Speakers: Dr Malek Nusier, Al Isra’
Dr Ala’ Khasawneh, Al Isra’
Ziyad Maraqa, Talal Abu Ghazaleh Organization
Rami Olwan, Queensland University (Australia), PhD candidate
Moderator: Dr Mohammad Abul Hija, Al Isra’ University
12:15-12:30 Coffee Break
12:30-13:30 A discussion on recent proposals on commercial emails and SMSs
Who wants to restrict unsolicited emails and commercial mobile text messages and why? What would be the legal grounds? Views from the industry and the regulator. What about prior consensus? Are Jordanian consumers aware of their rights?
Speakers: Jad Maqdah, CEO, JorMall
Muin Khoury, Director, Strategies
Khalid Houd, Omnia
Moderator: Dr Anis Mansur, Al Isra’ University
13:30-14:00 Evaluation and Certificates
Al Isra’ President and Dr Sakher Khasawneh
14:00-15:00 Lunch and End of Conference
