The Ministry of Information in the Syrian Transitional Government said on Thursday, May 08, that it has begun facilitating the work tasks of journalists by adopting electronic permits.
The ministry added that it is working with the Ministry of Interior in the Syrian Transitional Government to facilitate the work tasks of journalists, according to what was reported by the Syrian News Channel (Alikhbaria).
Alikhbaria indicated that the Ministry will add a “barcode” to the electronic permits granted to journalists in Syria by the Ministry.
The Ministry of Information, in cooperation with the Ministry of the Interior, will also provide security agents with “barcode” scanners to find out details of the permits held by journalists.
The Ministry stated that press cards issued by the Union of Journalists in Syria will be copied to the Ministry of Interior.
It also stressed the need for journalists to obtain official work assignments and to define tasks precisely to avoid problems while performing their journalistic duties.
Related: Syrian Media at a Moment of Truth
On April 12, the Syrian Journalists Union set new conditions for joining it for media professionals working in audio, visual, and print institutions.
The Secretary of Registration, Admission and Professional Affairs at the Journalists Union, Mahmoud Abu Ras, had said that the conditions for membership are that the applicant must hold Syrian citizenship, according to what was reported by the official Syrian News Agency (SANA).
He added that one of the conditions for joining the Union of Journalists is that the applicant must have worked in the media field for a period of no less than three years in any of the various media outlets.
He pointed out that the applicant for membership in the Union must have a minimum of a high school diploma, noting that the degree of membership is determined according to the years of experience and certificate possessed by the journalist.
Those wishing to join the Union are allowed to register applications electronically or submit the application on paper within the Union’s main office in Damascus.
SANA reported that all journalists who joined the union before December 8 are required to apply for membership to verify their data.
