Jana al-Issa | Hassan Ibrahim | Omar Alaa Eldin
For decades, the Syrian regime has systematically restricted press freedoms, causing Syria to rank low on global press freedom indices published by specialized international organizations such as Reporters Without Borders.
After the fall of Assad’s regime on December 8, 2024, a new phenomenon emerged in the media landscape: the “press offices” and the “public relations office” of the Ministry of Information controlling the flow of information to journalists, allowing them to conduct coverage and interviews. This has led to confusion, seemingly linked to a reorganization being undertaken by the Ministry of Information and the government, related to the expertise needed to manage this file. However, journalists remain concerned about the potential return of government control over press freedoms in the country.
During the first five months of the current year, several journalists faced various violations, including direct assaults from military personnel and factions with different affiliations across Syria.
Three months after the swift appointment of a caretaker government following Bashar al-Assad’s fall, the new Minister of Information, Hamza Mustafa, was appointed. He assumed his responsibilities promising positive change and possible solutions to facilitate journalists’ work and their access to information.
Despite these promises, many attempts by journalists to obtain information from officials continue to encounter refusals or neglect, either due to the sensitivity of the subject in most cases or due to multiple interferences between the Ministry of Information and other ministries and institutions, in addition to complicated, unclear dynamics in press office operations.
Enab Baladi highlights some challenges journalists face in trying to access information, the complications they encounter from press offices within various ministries and institutions, and their meetings with government officials and the Ministry of Information to clarify the situation. It also examines the role of journalist unions and associations, intersecting the situation with experts in the field.
A confusing path to informationSome Syrian journalists fear that access to information will be restricted through the press offices affiliated with public entities in Syria, either intentionally or due to a lack of coordination between the media offices and the Ministry of Information.
Currently, the administrative structure has each government ministry or institution operating its own press or public relations office. Journalists can reach out via a phone call, WhatsApp, or Telegram, and this office tries to facilitate communication with the concerned party or receives journalists’ questions and forwards them to the official for a response.
This mechanism makes it easier for journalists to obtain specific information, but it often restricts their access to responsible sources and the opportunity to pose questions directly. Some offices refuse to engage with journalists before obtaining approval from the Ministry of Information.
Journalists working in Syria, who spoke to Enab Baladi, had differing opinions about their dealings with press offices. Some noted that there seems to be a deliberate reluctance to provide information, whereas others observed significant cooperation among various press offices.
Press conference with Syrian Interior Spokesperson Nour al-Din al-Baba
Unclear interaction
Enab Baladi‘s correspondent in Daraa governorate has faced recurring difficulties while trying to cover the operations at the Nassib border crossing with Jordan after the fall of Bashar Assad’s regime, and he failed in three attempts to film or conduct any press coverage.
In the first attempt, on December 18, 2024, the correspondent was allowed to enter on the condition of obtaining approval from the head of the immigration department, who referred him to the customs director. The latter refused to grant any permit and referred him to the crossing director, without success.
In the second attempt, on January 9, the correspondent went directly to the crossing director’s office to obtain filming permission. However, after waiting for three hours, he was informed that he needed approval from the Land and Sea Ports Authority.
The third attempt occurred on January 26, following an announcement about the arrival of Saudi aid to the crossing, but the correspondent was barred from entering the gate. After intervention from a campaign coordinator, he was allowed in but was again prevented from filming for not having a prior permit.
The correspondent followed the procedures as requested, but he noted other obstacles related to obtaining official permits, with some requests taking over a month without a response, as was the case for covering an event at Daraa University, while another permit request submitted to the electricity directorate was ignored.
On the other hand, there is prompt cooperation from other municipal employees, for example, who swiftly respond to journalists’ requests for official information and positions.
Besan Khalaf, a journalist working for Enab Baladi in Damascus, encountered a similar situation when the press office at Damascus University refused to provide her with contact information for the dean of the English literature department, declined to forward her questions, and rejected a valid approval from the public relations office at the Ministry of Information, insisting on a written and signed permit from the press affairs office.
The same journalist contacted the press office at the Syrian Ministry of Defense, which was responsive and provided clarifications regarding the denial of a report about the appointment of defected Colonel Riad al-Asaad, founder of the former Free Syrian Army, as assistant to the Minister of Defense, Murhaf Abu Qasra, without requiring approval from any body.
Journalists’ rights… Not related to employee opinions
Syrian journalist Ahmad Haj Bakri told Enab Baladi that the state is in a phase of reconstruction, which generates weaknesses and hurdles for journalists when obtaining information, including complications and the ignorance of certain personnel about their assigned tasks. In some cases, the matter depends on the opinion of the media office or the public relations officer regarding what to accept or reject (cooperation or lack thereof).
Haj Bakri highlighted the need for media offices or communication officers to realize that what journalists request for access to information is their right, without the personal opinion or perspective of the office employee intervening in this process. He added that the absence of clear laws or mechanisms for communication with government entities and proper interaction with them is also a negative aspect.
Moreover, he noted that the unstable security situation raises concerns, as there are no laws or security enforcement across all of Syria, indicating that coordination with media offices in provinces and ministries is the safest approach in this phase, ensuring that journalists are known in a specific area in case they face aggression or any violations.
Haj Bakri believes that the current level of freedom in Syria is very high, and all journalists are capable of working and covering any issues they wish. However, it is possible that for some topics that may not please the authorities, there is little cooperation or clear answers provided.
Bureaucracy penetrated by cooperation
Independent academic and journalist Dr. Ahmed al-Kinani believes that the situation before the regime’s fall can be applicable to the period after it regarding governmental entities shying away from providing information, especially digital data, as well as anything related to assessing governmental performance.
Through his daily work, he told Enab Baladi that he faces restrictions in accessing information, especially regarding files concerning energy, electricity, gas, and political leaks. Public entities try to limit the information they provide, only disclosing what they deem appropriate to share through leaks to selected media outlets.
There is bureaucratic red tape that prevents journalists from obtaining statements from responsible figures (directors, general directors, ministers), and these officials consistently prefer to provide exclusive statements to journalists connected to them personally, sidelining others.
Ahmed al-Kinani, Independent journalist
Al-Kinani considered that many Syrian officials no longer pay attention to local media but rather focus on international outlets, as evidenced by officials’ appearances in Arab or foreign media, in his opinion.
Press offices rely on bureaucratic protocols that govern the relationship between officials and journalists. Meeting requests are submitted to the office to arrange an interview with a minister, and the period following the regime’s fall has seen chaos in the issuance of statements, which the government has attempted to regulate by limiting interactions to a specific official in the Ministry of Information only.
Independent journalist Ahmed al-Kinani emphasized that press offices in various ministries do not effectively fulfill their role, adding, “From our experience, press offices remain the last resort that one can refer to,” stressing that journalistic work requires swift access to information, while the approach involving press offices appears to be “the opposite of speed,” as he put it.
It is impossible to compare the previous regime to the new Syrian administration in terms of openness to discussing files, ideas, and topics, no matter how diverse they may be, according to the Syrian journalist. He asserts, “The previous regime completely concealed information, categorizing certain files as restricted.” However, now there are no prohibited files, and various channels exist to access information and explore different issues.
Al-Kinani also stated that there is some cooperation from officials regarding the idea of openness towards the media, albeit concerning particular exclusive statements and appearances. This is due to Syria being “a reservoir of events,” and some officials may hesitate to conduct interviews given the frequency of such events, according to the independent journalist.
The weapon of persistence
For her part, Syrian journalist Munira Baloush sees that cooperation from press offices with journalists is good, albeit with some delays in response.
Having lived in Idlib previously and currently in Damascus, this Syrian journalist can obtain information quickly, though it can sometimes be limited, as the employee responsible for public relations may be content with just receiving questions and forwarding them to the main source, losing the journalist’s opportunity to ask more inquiries about the topic.
Due to her persistence in seeking information, Baloush can secure permits more rapidly. However, this persistence has been a solution in some cases, while some offices have been slow to respond to inquiries and questions.
A temporary phase
Regarding the main challenges he faces when trying to obtain information from a government source, Kamal Sheikho, a correspondent for Asharq al-Awsat newspaper in Damascus, stated that the lack of official pages, emails, and contact numbers to reach government entities is among the most significant issues faced.
The transitional government has recently taken over its tasks, along with the press offices, but there are no clear contact numbers to obtain information. According to Sheikho’s statement to Enab Baladi, this issue is related to the novelty of the establishment and the founding of the press offices that have just resumed their work, as well as the ministries.
During the initial phase of the caretaker government’s rule, prior to the transitional government’s formation, there was no cooperation from press offices to obtain permission to conduct an interview with an official or minister, making the process extremely difficult, as experienced by Sheikho.
I believe that there is a need for time to provide a balance between disseminating information and supplying it to journalists. Additionally, in my opinion, restricting access to information may last from three to six months; however, its continuation beyond that is deemed “unacceptable” by journalists.
Kamal Sheikho, Correspondent for Asharq al-Awsat newspaper in Damascus
Improvement in global ranking
Syria has risen two places in press freedom, moving from 179th place in 2024, during the rule of the Assad regime, to 177th place, according to the World Press Freedom Index 2025 issued by Reporters Without Borders.
According to Reporters Without Borders, the political pressures on journalists have decreased following the fall of the Syrian regime, while local media institutions are striving to create a sustainable framework for independent journalism. Syrian journalists and national media, along with local associations advocating for press freedom, continue to call for the establishment of a new constitution that ensures their right to access information.
A speech by the Syrian president during the transitional period, Ahmed al-Sharaa, at the opening of the National Dialogue Conference at the People’s Palace in Damascus – February 25, 2025 (Enab Baladi/Anas al-Khouli)
Sensitive files Ministry of Information clarifies its positionMohammed Abdul Rahman, the director of governmental relations at the Syrian Ministry of Information, told Enab Baladi that the essence of journalistic work is that the relationship between journalists and official institutions is through the Ministry of Information represented by the Directorate of Public Relations, which is responsible for receiving media requests, coordinating responses, and arranging interviews with relevant parties, in accordance with the capabilities and procedures of each entity.
He added that this organization aims to facilitate journalists’ work and unify communication channels so that journalists do not have to move between several bodies in search of information.
Due to increasing pressure on the directorate due to the expansion of media activity, direct communication channels have been opened between some media offices and service or civil entities to expedite procedures in routine or daily files.
Regarding sensitive issues or those related to public policies, coordination is referred back to the Directorate of Public Relations to ensure accuracy and integration. This organizational measure aims to provide accurate information without conflict, according to Abdul Rahman.
Abdul Rahman considered that existing discrepancies between official institutions in dealing with journalists is normal, often due to the nature of work of each body and the level of sensitivity of the files they deal with. Some ministries, especially service ones, require a higher degree of media openness and thus grant easier access to information.
In contrast, there are entities that are security or sovereign in nature, where dealing with them is more cautious due to the nature of the issues associated with them, according to Abdul Rahman.
In general, the government adopts a unified mechanism as much as possible to obtain statements, by submitting requests through the Directorate of Public Relations at the Ministry of Information, which coordinates and determines the entity authorized for a statement or interview. The ministry is currently working on developing the mechanisms of this coordination to minimize discrepancies and facilitate media work.
Mohammed Abdul Rahman, Director of Government Relations at the Syrian Ministry of Information
Regarding the lack of official responsiveness on certain issues, Abdul Rahman told Enab Baladi that the government follows a media policy aimed at protecting civil peace and strengthening stability. Thus, caution is exercised in some matters, particularly those of a security nature or related to national security, in disclosing information to safeguard the public interest.
At other times, the response may be delayed due to incomplete information or time constraints, especially with the rapid circulation of news and the receipt of urgent reports. There are also instances where official bodies seek to fully verify details before issuing any statement to avoid disseminating inaccurate information.
It cannot be denied that media operations in Syria are still in the process of institutional arrangement, but there are concerted efforts to expand media response teams, improve response speed, and develop publishing and replying tools, achieving a balance between transparency and accountability.
Mohammed Abdul Rahman, Director of Government Relations at the Syrian Ministry of Information
200 entities awaiting licenses
Media outlets and journalistic institutions are awaiting a decision on the requests they have submitted for licensing to operate within Syria, as repeated statements have been made about facilitating the process without any progress in this regard.
The director of governmental relations at the Ministry of Information stated that the licensing department has opened the door to receive requests for licensing media institutions and has received more than 200 requests from various entities so far. Soon, the application window will close, preparing to form a specialized committee to study the requests based on professional and administrative criteria that take into account specialization, field, and the objectives of each entity.
The required conditions will be officially announced, ensuring transparency and equal opportunities to organize the media sector and provide it with a supportive and professional legal environment, according to Abdul Rahman.
Syrian Minister of Information Hamza Mustafa during a meeting with several artists – May 7, 2025 (Syrian Ministry of Information)
The Union of Journalists A hotline for solving problemsNo complaints have been directed to the Union of Syrian Journalists from journalists concerning obstacles to accessing information, either from public relations offices in ministries or from press offices, according to Bara’a Othman, a member of the Executive Office of the Union of Journalists.
Othman added to Enab Baladi that the union has received several complaints regarding delays from press offices within ministries in responding to journalists’ inquiries. When contacting those offices, the “logical response” was that “the numerous journalistic requests related to statements required from ministers regarding the ministry’s work” have become a burden.
According to Othman, this comes in addition to the many tasks faced by ministers, especially during the phase of restructuring public institutions and numerous projects. It should be noted that all ministries are trying to issue daily information about the activities they are engaged in.
Othman described the coordination process between the Union of Journalists and the Ministry of Information as “very high,” indicating that the union has a “hotline” with the Ministry of Information encompassing all its bodies and directorates.
A link in the chain
Othman stated that the Ministry of Information has been very responsive, particularly the media relations office, which has been divided into several offices to facilitate access to information and ease the movement of journalists.
He explained that the relations office has been divided into a press relations office that generally deals with journalists’ affairs, in addition to a governmental relations office that focuses on linking journalists with ministries and public institutions. There is also an external relations office that handles the mechanisms of operation and eases the access of foreign and Arab channels coming from outside Syria, according to what the executive office member said.
According to Othman, the Union of Syrian Journalists has a methodology to facilitate access to information for journalists through the hotlines established by the union with all ministries and public institutions, even unions in Syria, making the Union of Journalists a “link” in case of any delay, ambiguity, or problem faced by journalists in accessing information or the source of information.
He added that “there is a procedure that we can say we have accomplished about 60 to 70% of it, which is preparing a database for journalists working in Syria in preparation for launching the union’s press card, which will have a significant role in facilitating the work of journalists on Syrian territory.”
Enab Baladi’s correspondent in Aleppo countryside photographs the aftermath of destruction following an earthquake that struck southern Turkey and four Syrian governorates – March 4, 2023 (Enab Baladi)
Media and press offices… Mandatory independence that enhances professionalismThe overlapping work of press offices in various ministries and public entities necessitates clarifying the relationship between these offices and the Ministry of Information, to which “sensitive” inquiries are often referred, leaving journalists’ questions unanswered.
To understand the nature of the relationship that should exist between the Ministry of Information and the press offices of various entities, the head of the Syrian Journalists Association, Mazen Murshid, who closely monitors the developments in the media landscape in Syria, stated that the relationship between press offices in ministries and the Ministry of Information should be built on a foundation of coordination and integration, not dependency. Press offices serve as a link between official institutions and public opinion and must enjoy enough professional independence to effectively and transparently fulfill their role.
The relationship between press offices and the Ministry of Information should be coordinative and supervisory from a technical and professional standpoint, allowing the ministry to set unified standards for media work (ethical, professional, and methods of interaction with media) without intervening in the content of messages or turning the offices into regulatory arms.
Mazen Murshid, head of the Syrian Journalists Association
As for the management of these offices, it is preferable for them to be managed by the ministries themselves, according to what Murshid told Enab Baladi, as they are more knowledgeable about the details of their work and outputs, subject to periodic reports or joint training with the Ministry of Information to ensure the unification of the general institutional discourse.
Direct management of all press offices by the Ministry of Information could lead to excessive centralization that weakens rapid responsiveness and marginalizes the uniqueness of each ministry. There is a danger to independence and transparency, making them a distorted copy of the press offices in ministries and institutions during the previous regime, which enhances a unilateral discourse and undermines public trust, according to the head of the association.
Meanwhile, management of the offices from within the ministries, with strategic coordination with the Ministry of Information, achieves a balance between specialization, the general message of the state, and journalistic professionalism.
Enab Baladi correspondent during journalistic coverage in the Defense Factories and Scientific Research Building near the town of Safira in eastern Aleppo – January 3, 2025 (Enab Baladi)
A structure that controls the media discourse
Assistant Professor of Media at the Free University of Brussels (VUB) in Belgium, Yazan Badran, stated to Enab Baladi that traditions in this area differ by country. For example, in the European model, the Ministry of Information is like any other ministry with certain powers such as overseeing the media system and public media institutions.
In most models, ministries and public bodies have their own press offices, while the Syrian model in this context is not entirely clear.
Badran noted that there is ambiguity in tasks and responsibilities; however, the inherited model in the country is that the Ministry of Information, like other ministries, possesses a press office responsible for communication with journalists and media professionals regarding the Ministry of Information’s tasks and media legislation.
However, this office should not become the official spokesperson for the state across all other ministries. On the contrary, other ministries are supposed to have their own press offices that respond to inquiries and release press statements related to their activities, without oversight from the Ministry of Information over the various ministries.
The Ministry of Information cannot be familiar with the details of the work of different ministries and entities in Syria, Badran said, adding that currently, these offices exist to control the media discourse.
In a normal situation, press offices in various institutions attempt to reach out to journalists to coordinate the publication of news and plans related to those institutions. However, in Syria, information is restricted to ensure that what is not preferred to be published does not leak, resulting in unanswered inquiries and forcing journalists into a bureaucratic cycle from one press office to another under the ministry of information.
Yazan Badran, Assistant Professor at the Free University of Brussels
Badran believes this is part of the ambiguity of the structure of the new Syrian government, affirming that the press office of ministries is the primary source of official information but not the only one, as journalists have the right to pursue information anywhere.
However, the more critical issue is the threats faced by journalists who do not consult the press office at the Ministry of Information, as it does not serve them and does not provide them with useful information, leading to a lack of cooperation in subsequent instances. This is very wrong because the press office’s job is to facilitate journalists’ work, not to close doors in their faces and push them to alternative paths for obtaining information.
Journalistic recommendations
In its first report on press freedoms in Syria, issued on May 3, the Syrian Journalists Association presented several recommendations to the Syrian government regarding freedom of journalistic work in Syria after the fall of the regime, including:
Repealing laws and regulations that legitimize media repression, ensuring that these violations do not recur in the future.0 Conducting a comprehensive review of laws related to press freedom, expression, and the right to access information, affirming the independence of the media and protecting journalists while aligning legislation with international standards. Immediate release of all detained journalists, revealing the fate of journalists forcibly disappeared, and providing fair compensation to them and their families, ensuring justice and compensation for the damages incurred. Restructuring media institutions and journalistic unions that were under the control of the previous regime into independent institutions that serve the public interest. Establishing effective oversight mechanisms to prevent the use of media as a tool for repression or deception, ensuring its independence in fulfilling its mission, and allowing journalists the freedom to form unions with guaranteed independence and equality in support and empowerment. Launching specialized training programs on documentation mechanisms and journalists’ rights, as well as raising legal awareness for journalists and advocates of freedom of expression. Enhancing a culture of accountability through independent and monitored media, ensuring the establishment of a more honest and transparent journalistic environment.
Syria: The war for information Enab Baladi.
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