Image:
28 Oct 2017
Your Royal Highness Princess Rym, friends and colleagues at JMI, proud mothers and fathers and family members, good students, ladies and gentlemen.<br />
<br />
I am here today to congratulate the master’s students of JMI with their exams and degrees. It is truly an honor for me, because I have the pleasure of knowing you all so well.<br />
<br />
I am also glad to be here to celebrate six years of cooperation between Jordan and Norway, between Jordan Media Institute and the Norwegian Institute of Journalism.<br />
We have organized many journalistic study trips to Norway, and good Scandinavian colleagues of mine have come here to have many, many practical journalistic workshops. This week for example in mobile video journalism for social media and the web. We have had workshops of storytelling in radio and tv, photo workshops, and many others. Last year we covered the world football cup for women under 17 years old in Jordan, and this spring we had a wonderful photo field trip to Wadi Rum, Petra and a bedouin village. Real journalistic work!<br />
<br />
Two years ago I also had the honor and pleasure to say a few words to the coming journalists from JMI, that now have the degree – Master’s of Journalism.<br />
Go out there and fulfill your degree. Be masters, and tell the truth. Don’t let your editors or authorities stop you without a very, very good reason. Remember you have chosen one of the most important jobs in society. To defend the weakest, give voice to the voiceless, reveal unrights and corruption, be watchdogs for the civil society, strengthen people’s right to know and participate in civil and official life. Nothing less!<br />
<br />
You are the utmost representatives for these rights. There is no democracy or freedom where there is no free expression and open, independent media. And remember what I have said many times - freedom is not dangerous, it is only a bit difficult. It demands tolerance from all of us, and must be developed step by step to the benefit of all.<br />
<br />
Let my last words be:<br />
<br />
Journalism is not just information<br />
<br />
Journalism is not just words<br />
<br />
Journalism is storytelling about the real life and needs of the Jordanian people and the rest of the world. To encourage them to participate and play a role in society.<br />
<br />
I will also congratulate JMI with the important task to also train colleagues from the private and official journalistic media sector in Jordan.<br />
<br />
Good luck with your important work. You will love being real masters of journalism!