Jordan Media Institute - Amman
Mark Saikali, director of the French television channel FRANCE 24, said that communication technology development and the spread of social media contributed to freedom of the press on a global level. He added that with the world population reaching an estimated 8 billion, it was no longer tolerable that so many people are silenced and prevented from speaking, expressing their opinions, and taking advantage of technological advances.
Saikali spoke Monday at an event titled “The effect of advancements in communication and media technology on freedom of the press in the region and the world,” organized by JMI to mark World Press Freedom day, which was also attended by Princess Rym Ali. The director of FRANCE 24 said that although he absolutely supported freedom of the press, in no country was the media above the law.
Journalists must not provoke revolution and spread chaos, but rather they must tell the truth accurately and impartially. Saikali emphasized that freedom does not mean absolute chaos, but rather respect for the rights of others as well as respect for religious and cultural diversity, and for the equality of all humans regardless of origin or gender.
He said that all prominent and disciplined media channels produce segments dedicated to disinformation, which reveal false content that has been broadcast. In the current Coronavirus health crisis, billions of harmful and inaccurate news reports and posts have been observed.
Saikali indicated that journalists must transmit the truth to the public, and this transmission must include professional and objective experts in the health sector, which seeks to communicate information to the public.
He said that he has led the global news channel for the past eight and a half years. It reaches over 98 million viewers a week, broadcasting in 184 countries. It was one of the first channels to be present on social media, and used the technology to develop new media and to connect with audiences. Saikali also indicated that the news is every event, fact, or action that is important to people and impacts their lives. That being said, the majority of news that gets reported is bad news.
The dean of the Jordan Media Institute, Professor Abdel Hakim Alhusbani, announced that this discussion fell under the Institute’s policy to engage its students through discussions with experts in the field of media, and to monitor developments in the field of journalism in terms of technology and professional and legal practices. He stated that this discussion session came on an important day- World Press Freedom Day, meaning the freedom to have and to spread ideas. History tells us that where ideas flourish, societies prosper economically, socially, and morally.
Professor Alhusbani thanked Saikali for the exchange, especially for sharing his great expertise in prominent news media in countries where freedom of the press is relatively well-established.
Participating over video-conference, the Institute’s students asked Saikali questions about freedom of the press in the Arab World and around the globe. They asked about the global French broadcaster’s experience with the content that it distributes and the way it is presented to the world. Other questions addressed the concept of Truth, which journalism transmits, as well as journalistic standards and how they vary between countries.
The French-Lebanese journalist Mark Saikali has worked as director of the French television channel FRANCE24 for 10 years. He graduated from the University of Bordeaux in south-western France, where he studied Media Sciences and Ethnic and Cultural Studies. He worked as a reporter for the magazine “Young Africa”, and was previously director and editor-in-chief for several French television channels.