Legislative Frameworks to Ensure Freedom of Access and Circulation of Information and Its Impact on Quality Level of News Services in Arab News Agencies

Document Type : Original Article

Author

Institute of Arab Research and Studies - League of Arab States

Abstract

The study aims to monitor and analyze the relationship between freedom of access and circulation of information and the quality level of news services provided by Arab news agencies. The study employed the theory of gatekeeping as a theoretical framework and is considered one of the descriptive studies that relied on the survey method and applied the questionnaire tool on a sample of 142 journalists in the six following Arab news agencies: Middle East News Agency in Egypt, Maghreb Arabe Press in Morocco, Saudi Press Agency, Emirates News Agency in UAE, Palestine News Agency, and Qatar News Agency.
 The study concluded that journalists in those agencies have limited knowledge of the legislations that guarantee the right to access and circulate information. The constitution and laws regulating freedom of access to information are the most important legislative frameworks that guarantee the citizen's right to access information, enhance transparency, and expand the rules for exercising rights and freedoms. Digital media can face the restrictions imposed by legislative frameworks regulating the right to access information. The diversity of sources of access to information greatly affects the quality of news services provided by Arab news agencies, in terms of following current local and international events and developments, providing more comprehensive and in-depth press coverage, and verifying the accuracy of information from more than one source, especially reliable sources. Journalists in Arab news agencies face some difficulties when requesting information as sources’ refusal to provide the required statements and information or procrastination in providing information, especially from official bodies, which results in spreading rumors and false news, which threatens society’s safety, and leads to losing public confidence in local media and its attempt to search for other sources. 

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Main Subjects

References

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