Graduation Ceremony of Eighth Intake of JMI Master's Students

17 Oct. 2017<br /> <br /> Amman - Under the patronage of HRH Princess Rym Ali, the Jordan Media Institute (JMI) held a graduation ceremony for the eighth intake of students in its Master&#39;s Program in Journalism and New Media. The intake included 35 students from the thesis and comprehensive examination tracks.<br /> <br /> JMI Dean Dr. Basim Tweissi delivered a speech at the ceremony, in which he thanked HRH Princess Rym, the board of directors, and the members of the teaching and administrative staff for their continuing efforts and hard work and for safeguarding the values and principles of the JMI.<br /> <br /> Dr. Tweissi pointed out that the JMI sought to build the academic and professional capacities of the graduates based on a methodology that qualifies them to engage in the profession of journalism and media and competently handle communication and digital media technology based on strong knowledge. At the same time, they can develop an understanding of history, communities, and changes in the media and modern news-making.<br /> <br /> He noted that the JMI has realized at an early stage that the distinction that it could achieve and the qualitative contribution it should make involves three key areas: The first is a theoretical and practical contemporary perspective of journalism and media. The second is keeping up with communication technology. The third is a strong ethical and knowledge foundation that enables graduates to take responsible ethical decisions in everything they publish or broadcast to the public.<br /> <br /> Dr. Tweissi spoke about conditions in the region and their impact on media practices and how the public interacts with them. He indicated that since 2011, Arab changes have provided fertile ground for testing everything that is new in media practices. Political failure in the region around us has put enormous and unprecedented pressure on the Arabs and their societies. The media has made this failure deeper. The wager is now on a new Arab age of enlightenment in which professional media will help restore faith in democracy, and the belief that the solution lies in knowledge and freedom.<br /> <br /> Dr. Ebtehal Al-Khateeb, professor at the University of Kuwait and press writer, delivered the commencement speech. She spoke about her beginnings in media studies and conveyed a part of her experiences to the graduates. She noted that working in journalism requires great efforts and not surrendering to the existing reality. She said: People should work hard and persevere to achieve their ambitions. Graduation is the beginning of success in one&#39;s career.<br /> <br /> Addressing the graduates, Al-Khateeb said that choosing the career of journalism would make them noble messengers of the truth throughout their life. They make great sacrifices for the sake of the truth. A good journalist will be a bridge for the truth to enlighten minds and consciences, guarantee rights, and save humanity.<br /> <br /> On the current media situation, Al-Khateeb said that journalists have to seek accuracy in reporting news and pictures and commenting on the news so that viewers can see events as they unfold without falsifying or enhancing reality.<br /> <br /> She expressed her belief in strong journalism that can force governments to adopt sound and correct decisions to help people in times of difficulty. She said: The endless flow of information is a strong means of evoking anger and activating dialogue.<br /> <br /> Frode Rekve, adviser at the Norwegian Institute of Journalism, made a speech on behalf of friends of the JMI. He praised the role of the JMI in building a strong network of relations with prestigious international organizations. He urged the graduates to apply what they learned at the JMI and to be their own masters in searching for the truth and conveying it without submitting to any authority. He said: No one should stop them from pursuing their passion. He added that their first challenge was in choosing the profession of journalism as it is one of the most important jobs in society to defend the poor. The journalist is the eye of society and the voice of those who have no voice.<br /> <br /> The ceremony started with a valedictory by Layla Al-Kloub, in which she spoke about the practical and academic experience that students acquire during their study at the JMI and the real application in all areas of journalism and print and audiovisual media. She also spoke about the training opportunities and external cultural exchange throughout their university study in a number of countries, including Qatar, Lebanon, Austria, and Germany.<br /> <br /> At the end of the ceremony, HRH Princess Rym, accompanied by Professor Azmi Mahafza, president of the University of Jordan, and Dr. Tweissi handed out diplomas to the graduates and wished them success in their media career.<br /> <br /> The ceremony was attended by a number of official, media, and academic figures and the families of students.&nbsp;<br /> <br /> <br /> &nbsp;