Saraya (newspaper) explained

Saraya
Type:Daily
Format:Online newspaper
Owners:Khubrani Media and Advertising Company
Chiefeditor:Seif Obeidat
Foundation:2007
Language:Arabic
Headquarters:Amman
Website:Saraya News

Saraya (in Arabic سرايا) is an Arabic online newspaper based in Amman, Jordan. It was blocked by the Jordanian government in June 2013.

Profile

Hashim Al Khalidi is the owner of the website.[1] The editor-in-chief is Seif Obeidat.[1] The rate of readership for Saraya in 2010 was 24% according to Alexa, making it third mostly visited website in Jordan. In a market study carried out by Ipsos in March 2012 it was established that Saraya was among the top 20 most visited websites in the country along with two other news portals, namely Ammon News and Khaberni.[2] It was the 15th most visited website in the Arab world in 2012, too.[3] In April 2013, Saraya was the 9th most visited website in the country.[4] The Alexa data showed in June 2013 that the website was among the mostly visited news websites.[5]

In June 2013, it was blocked by the government along with more than other 200 websites.[6] [7] The reason for the blocking was the websites' improper publications and organization according to the new press and publications law.[8]

In January 2015 both the owner and editor-in-chief of Saraya were arrested by the Jordanian authorities due to their supposedly aiding terrorism and spreading false news.[1] [9]

Notes and References

  1. News: Jordan arrests two journalists on aiding terrorism charges. 5 June 2015. Committee to Protect Journalists. 29 January 2015.
  2. Web site: Freedom on the Net. Freedom House. 21 September 2013. 2012.
  3. News: Top websites in the Arab world 2012. 23 February 2014. Forbes Middle East.
  4. Web site: The impact of digitization and new media trends in Jordan. Arab Media Report. 21 September 2013.
  5. Web site: Rana F. Sweis. Dina Baslan. Mapping Digital Media: Jordan. Open Society Foundations. 11 September 2014. 10 October 2013.
  6. Web site: A Comprehensive List of Blocked Jordanian Websites. Global Journalist. 21 September 2013. Elisa López Aguado. Meredith Turk. 14 June 2013.
  7. News: Al Bawaba breaks free: one of the lucky nine websites Jordan unblocks. 11 September 2014. Al Bawaba. 5 June 2013.
  8. News: Jordan gov't said to block more than 200 websites. 21 September 2013. Arabian Business. 2 June 2013. Daniel Shane.
  9. News: Jordan arrests website pair over hostage swap rumors. 29 January 2015. 5 June 2015. The Japan Times.