On Tuesday, October 22, the Catholic Center for Studies and Media (CCSM) in Jordan, in cooperation with Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung’s Jordan Office, launched the first two-day training workshop at the American University of Madaba (AUM) titled, “Guiding the University Youth on the Good Use of Social Media Networking, and the Ethics of this use that serves Harmony, Unity, and Encounter Among Civilizations and Religions”.
Opening the workshop, CCSM Director Fr. Dr. Rif’at Bader said, “Social Media or Social Media Networking sites are a double-edged sword that may have positive or negative consequences. Unfortunately, they seem to produce further negative concepts compared to the positive ones produced; yet, we have not to despair since there are voices that still defend media, and the role media in defense of truth, as well as their role in the defense of dialogue, intimacy, and affection.”
AUM Vice President Wadi’ Al-Abed said, “These meetings represent an invaluable opportunity to exchange knowledge and opinions, as well as to establish contacts that serve one other and serve our community.” He added that social media networking plays a key role in either building and sustaining relations or destroying them.
For her part, Project Manager Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung’s Jordan Office Ms. Hala Abu Ghazaleh spoke about the role the German foundation has been playing since its establishment in Jordan in 1982 with regards to holding several workshops, seminars and conferences dealing with various political, cultural, economic and social issues.
During the workshop, a documentary film prepared by CCSM was screened.
At the end of the workshop, editor-in chief of Jordanian daily Al-Dustour Mustafa Ryalat, who was the guest of honor, said that the media need nowadays to contribute to renouncing hate discourses, as well as to counter rumors and fake news.
Later certificates were presented to the participants in the workshop who were from the University of Jordan, the Hashemite University, the German-Jordanian University, Mu’ta University and the AUM.
The CCSM will continue the workshop sessions on Wednesday, October 23, with the participation of students from further five Jordanian universities in addition to students from the guest university, namely the AUM.
