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15 Apr 2017
Al-Zarqa -- Dr. Basim Tweissi, dean of the Jordan Media Institute (JMI), said that the world is witnessing a compound crisis in the performance of media outlets and their relationship with society and politicians, at a time when mainstream media and new means of communication are being used to mislead the public. He indicated that this crisis has deepened in recent years in an unprecedented manner. This is a real challenge to professional media and to major companies that are managing large platforms for social media and new applications. <br />
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In a lecture he delivered at Zarqa University titled "Industry of Deception in Contemporary Media," attended by University President Dr. Mahmoud al-Wadi, the vice presidents, the deans of faculties, Director of International Relations Dr. Faisal al-Sarhan, and university students, Dr. Tweissi added that the world today is going through a stage in which the value of truth, as known by previous generations, has declined. This phenomenon is called "post-truth era," which is the context in which lies are mixed up with some truth and objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief.<br />
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He explained that this concept is the latest in the dictionary of political science, media and public opinion. It emerged clearly in the explanation of the circumstances, and the political and cultural context, accompanying a number of political developments in the recent period, such as the U.S. elections, Brexit, and others. He noted that this phenomenon is also linked to the new populist trend that is sweeping the world. This trend is based on regurgitating people's emotions, selling them the dream of power, sanctifying nationalist identities, and the decline in the status of institutions and elite groups.<br />
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He pointed out that the new media environment is characterized by powerful deception in view of the torrent of information and news, multiplicity of sources, variation in their credibility, inability to determine the credibility of many sources, and variation in standards that can be used to judge the accuracy of press material. This is in addition to the different ways of corroborating sources of information in an overlapping environment in which it is difficult to confirm the true identity of sources. He indicated that the public used to suffer previously from the problem of scarcity of information and sources. Today, however, we have to deal with the problem of abundance of information and sources. <br />
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At the end of the lecture, Dr. Tweissi answered questions by the attendees. <br />
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In a related development, JMI Dean Dr. Basim Tweissi and Zarqa University President Dr. Mahmoud al-Wadi signed a memorandum of understanding between the two establishments on cooperation in the field of exchanging expertise, exchanging cultural and academic student visits, and cooperating in launching joint programs and projects and conducting academic research. The memorandum of understanding also provides for cooperation in organizing conferences and workshops and academic exchange between the two sides. <br />
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It is worth noting that the JMI has started receiving applications for the MA program in Journalism and New Media for the year 2017/2018 until 6 July. <br />
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For more information, please visit the website of the JMI <a href="http://www.jmi.edu.jo">www.jmi.edu.jo</a> or call the following numbers + 962 6 5713304/6 <br />
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