Abstract
The purpose of this study is to shed light on the status of the right of access to information in the actions of municipality councils in Jordan, to identify the definite policy municipalities adopted to communicate with citizens, local media, and establishments in their geographical areas, and finally to find out if that policy is sufficiently transparent. The study aims to reach a comprehensive assessment of the state of awareness and the exercise of this right through the elected local government institutions which represent the first line of contact with local communities. The study addresses the research problem through a survey of practices in 93 municipalities spread over four categories and examines their relations with local media from the perspective of the right of access to information. By way of concluding, the study highlights the development of information systems in the municipalities and emphasizes the need to increase the capacity of municipal workers in dealing with media. The study moreover recommends that local journalists should be trained on the best practices in the right of access to information in the areas of municipalities work and media coverage for local communities should be improved.
Key words: Access to information, local media, municipality councils in Jordan.
