The Role of the Electronic Journalism in the Political Reform Processes

The present study aimed to explore the role of the electronic journalism in the political reform processes. The researcher adopted a descriptive analytical approach. He used a questionnaire that consists from 14 items. The population consists from all the students enrolled at public universities in Jordan. A random sample was selected. It consists from 200 female and male students. It was found that the extent of following the electronic news by the university students in Jordan is high from their perspective. It was found that the electronic journalism play a very significant role in the political reform processes from the perspective of the students enrolled at public universities in Jordan. The researcher recommends increasing the engagement of students in the discussions held on news websites and blogs in order to promote political awareness.

affected by the diversity of the employees' views in the same media institution. Journalism plays a significant role in making political reforms. That is because journalism plays a significant role in promoting democracy, and encourage people to engage in politics. It is because journalism plays a significant role in the process of making the political decision. The role of journalism in making political reforms is affected by the political system in the state and amount of freedom in the state (Shelton, 2006) .
Politicians turned to new media to circumvent the mainstream press' control over the news agenda. The infotainment emphasis of new media at this early stage offered political leaders and candidates a friendlier venue for presenting themselves to the public than did hard news outlets (Moy, et al., 2009).
The next phase in the development of new media unfolded in conjunction with the application of emerging digital communications technologies to politics that made possible entirely new outlets and content delivery systems. The digital environment and the platforms it supports greatly transformed the political media system in many countries (Owen, 2020).
The freedom given to media is affected by several factors. Such factors include: historical and sociological factors. Media plays a significant role in the production of new ideas and the emergence of new concepts and trends (Al-Anani, 2017).
Electronic media has been existing in the Arab World for two decades. It represents a whole industry in the digital and telecommunication environments. There are still problems associated with the freedom given to electronic media. Such problems affect the development of electronic media. They affect the organizational environment of many electronic media institutions. The extent of freedom given to electronic media represents the nature of the relationship between the government and media institutions. It is affected by the sources funding the media institution and how professional the journalists are. It is affected by the agenda of the media institution. It should be noted that media institutions play a significant role in developing people's identify and promoting a specific political culture (Al-Raji, 2019).
Today, electronic journalism is considered very important. It has been proved that electronic journalism plays a very significant role in virtual reality, recording events, and broadcasting news. It complements the role of conventional media. Contrary to conventional media, it eliminates the political and geographical limitations. It has been experiencing a significant development. Such development is related to services and websites. Due to multimedia, electronic media is considered interactive (Nabeeh, 2012).
The complexities of the new media system are reflected in the diversity of available content. The information distributed via the vast communications network runs the gamut from fact-based, investigative reporting from professional journalists to brash fabrications or "alternative facts" or alternative press (Graham, 2017).

Statement of the Problem
Electronic media is considered a very significant modern mean for broadcasting news and information immediately and directly. In fact, it made hiding news much difficult. That's because all people can access electronic news and reports through using ICT.
Electronic newspapers are capable to overcome the strict control enforced over them, especially in Arab countries. However, some electronic news websites were closed in some Arab countries. Some owners of those websites were prisoned. Electronic media provided people with new potentials. For instance, it enables people to broadcast any news regardless of the relevant control. Control can be enforced over the conventional newspapers before having them published. However, such control can't be enforced over electronic newspapers (Ma'a'li, 2008). Therefore, the problem of the present study is represented in the following question: (What is the role of the electronic journalism in the political reform processes in Jordan?)

The Study's Questions and Objective
The present study aimed to explore the role of the electronic journalism in the political reform processes in Jordan. To meet this goal, the following questions were answered: Q.1. What is the reality of following up the electronic news by university students in Jordan? Q.2 What is the reality of the role of the electronic journalism in the political reform processes in Jordan from the perspective of the university students?

The Study's Significance
The present study is significant due to the following reasons: -The present study sheds a light on the reality of the role of electronic journalism. It sheds a light on the effective role of electronic journalism in society. For instance, electronic journalism broadcasts news about the most significant issues in society. It's important because people can easily access electronic media through using ICT. It's important because people can interact with the content broadcasted through electronic media.
-Electronic journalism promotes awareness in society about political and national issues. It's used by the government and political parties, and bodies to display opinions and visions related to political reform.
Journal of Education and Practice www.iiste.org ISSN 2222-1735 (Paper) ISSN 2222-288X (Online) Vol.11, No.15, 2020 150 -The present study offers recommendations and suggestions about the role of the electronic journalism in the political reform processes in Jordan.

Definition of Terms:
The study's terms are defined below: Electronic journalism: It refers to the broadcasting news through using the electronic environment, and information networks. It involves employing artistic and technical skills. It involves using ICTs and their features. It involves using texts, and images. It involves interaction with the reader. It involves processing and analyzing news. It involves broadcasting news on the electronic environment (Ma'a'li, 2008).
Political reform: It refers to the process of making dramatic or partial adjustments or developments to social relationships, political system or regime inside the state through using the available means (Al-Mashaqbeh, 2011: 17).

The Study's Limits:
The study's limits are presented below: Spatial limits: The present study targets public universities in Jordan. Temporal limits: The present study was conducted during (January-March, 2020). Human limits: The present study targets the students enrolled in public universities located in the central province in Jordan. These universities are: (the University of Jordan, the Hashemite University and Balqa Applied University).

Review of Previous Studies
The researcher reviewed several previous studies related to the study's subject. These studies are presented below Owen (2020) review the new media's role in politics. The study reported that new media have both expanded and undercut the traditional roles of the press in a democratic society. On the positive side, they have vastly increased the potential for political information to reach even the most disinterested citizens. They enable the creation of digital public squares where opinions can be openly shared. They have created new avenues for engagement that allow the public to connect in new ways with government, and to contribute to the flow of political information.
Al-Raji (2019) aimed to shed a light on the freedom given to the electronic journalism in Jordan in legal, political, social and economic areas. He aimed to shed a light on the factors affecting the extent of freedom given to the electronic journalism in Jordan. He aimed to shed a light on the indicators of such freedom and the means that regulate it. He aimed to explore the relationship between the organizational environment of electronic media institutions and other environments. It was found that the journalists working online in Jordan are still obstacles and difficulties hindering those journalists from enjoying much freedom. Those obstacles and difficulties are attributed to security-related factors and bureaucratic measures.
El Issawi & Cammaerts (2016) investigate the role of Egyptian journalists includes e-media in shaping Egypt's complex and fast-moving political transition. Based on a thematic analysis of in-depth interviews and a conceptual framework building on Christians et al.'s normative roles of the media, it can be concluded that the monitorial and facilitative roles, which were prevalent in the early stages of the post-Mubarak era, were quickly overturned in favor of a radical and collaborative role. Egyptian journalists working in private media thus demonized their political adversaries, mainly the Islamists, transforming this political 'other' into the ultimate enemy.
Nielsen et al (2016) reviews challenges and opportunities for news media and journalism in today's changing media environment. The study analysis media environment where most people have access to more and more news and information about many issues, in large part enabled by digital media and the products and services of large technology companies. The study reported that increasingly digital, mobile, and social media environment with increasingly intense competition for attention. This puts increasing pressure on legacy media like broadcasters and newspapers. These remain important news producers but are becoming relatively less important as distributors of news. As their existing operations decline or stagnate, the development of new, sustainable business models for digital news production become more urgent.
Abed Al-Razaq (2013) aimed to explore the role of social media networks among young people. He selected a sample from students enrolled in public universities in Iraq. The selected universities are located in places that included early revolutionary movements. The latter researcher adopted a descriptive analytical approach. Questionnaire forms were distributed to 400 students. It was found that the social media networks play a significant role in shaping the political views of the students enrolled at the universities located in Mousel, Al-Anbar, and Takreet. It was found that there isn't any statistically significant differences between the respondents' attitudes which can be attributed to (gender, place of residence, academic stage, faculty and age) Dashti (2009) used online content analysis to determine the role online journalism plays in political disputes, focusing on the most popular Kuwaiti personal writers' sites, weblogs and forums. The results show that the Journal of Education and Practice www.iiste.org ISSN 2222-1735 (Paper) ISSN 2222-288X (Online) Vol.11, No.15, 2020 language of online journalism took a different direction from the local press, with more freedom to write, discuss, and share ideas online with less fear of government retribution. What was considered a taboo red line in the local press became acceptable green line online. Also online journalism has consolidated offline users with online users to force the government to accept their demands.
Ma'ali (2008) aimed to explore the impact of electronic journalism on achieving political development in Palestine. He aimed to explore that since the establishment of the first electronic news website in 1996 till 2007. He aimed to explore the characteristics of the electronic journalism in Palestine. He aimed to explore the reality of electronic journalism in Palestine. It was found that electronic journalism plays a significant role in promoting political ideas of various types and sources. It was found that the content broadcasted online is printed and posted on the walls of universities, mosques and institutions. That participates in promoting ideas among people. Thus, it was found that electronic journalism plays a significant role in educating people about political issues in a scientific and reasonable manner. It plays a significant role in holding discussions between the members of the society of various social classes.

Comments on the Previous Studies
The aforementioned studies shed a light on the significance of electronic journalism in societies. Most of the aforementioned studies suggest that the number of electronic news websites has been increasing worldwide. Some of the aforementioned studies shed a light on the role of electronic news websites in promoting democracy. Some of the aforementioned studies shed a light on the political status of countries.
The aforementioned studies suggest that electronic journalism employs electronic means-including social media-for broadcasting news. The aforementioned studies differ from one to another in terms of the population. The present study differs from the aforementioned studies in terms of the subject. To be specific, it sheds a light on the role of the electronic journalism in the political reform processes in Jordan.

The Study's Study
The researcher adopts a descriptive analytical approach.

The Study's Population
The study's population consists from all the students enrolled at public universities located in Jordan The Study's Sample: The researcher selected a random stratified sample. This sample consists from 200 students enrolled in public universities located in the central province in Jordan. These universities are: (the University of Jordan, the Hashemite University and Balqa Applied University). Information about the sample is illustrated below: The Study's Instrument: The present study aimed to explore the role of electronic journalism in the political reform processes in Jordan from the perspective of the students enrolled at public universities. A questionnaire was developed. It consists from three parts. The first part collects data about the respondents' demographic data (i.e. gender and university). The second part collects data about the extent of following up electronic news by university students. It consists from 7 items. The third part sheds a light on the role of the electronic journalism in the political processes university. It consists from 7 items. The five point Likert scale was adopted. The latter scale consists from the following rating categories: strongly agree, agree, neutral, disagree and strongly disagree. They represent the following scores respectively: 5, 4, 3, 2 and 1

Validity of the Instrument
Validity of the instrument refers to the degree to which the instrument is capable to measure what it was set to measure. It was measured through passing the questionnaire to a panel of experts to assess the questionnaire.
Journal of Education and Practice www.iiste.org ISSN 2222-1735 (Paper) ISSN 2222-288X (Online) Vol.11, No.15, 2020 Reliability of the Instrument To measure the reliability of the instrument, Cronbach Alpha coefficient values were calculated. The latter value is 0.805. It's an accepted value.

The Study's Variables:
The study's variables are listed below: -The independent variable: It's represented in the role of electronic journalism in the political reform processes in Jordan from the perspective of university students -The dependent variable: It's represented in the respondents' attitudes towards the role of electronic journalism in the political reform processes in Jordan from the perspective of university students. It's measured through the items of the questionnaire.

Methods for statistical analysis:
To meet the study's goals, the SPSS program was used for analyzing data and reach results. The following statistical methods are used by the researcher: -The researcher calculated Cronbach alpha coefficient value to measure the reliability of the questionnaire -The researcher calculated percentages and frequencies to identify the characteristics of the respondents -The researcher calculated means and standard deviations in order to identify the respondents' attitudes The researcher adopted the following statistical criteria to classify means: High: 2.34 or higher Moderate: 1.67-less than 2.34 Low: less than 1.67 The Study's Results: Results related to the first question: Q.1. What is the reality of following up the electronic news by university students in Jordan?
To answer the first question, means and standard deviations were calculated. Table (2) presents the results related to the first question.  Table (2) presents the reality of following up the electronic news by university students in Jordan from their perspective. It was found that the extent of following up the electronic news by university students is high in Jordan from their perspective. That's because the overall mean is 3.27 which is high. The overall standard deviation is 0.361.
The mean of statement (1) is 3.52 which is high and ranked first. The standard deviation of the latter statement is 0.879. The latter statement states the following: (I often rely on websites to get daily news). The mean of statement (5) is 3.06 which is high and ranked last. The latter standard deviation of the latter statement is 0.361. The latter statement states the following: (I interested in articles related to political reform).
The latter result may be attributed to the spread of modern technologies in society. Such modern technologies include: smart devices, mobile applications, social media, and news websites. Therefore, people rely much on news websites for following up the latest news, including political news.
The results are consistent with Nielsen et al (2016) which reported that increasingly digital, mobile, and social media environment with increasingly intense competition for attention. Dashti (2009) reported that online journalism took a different direction from the local press, with more freedom to write, discuss, and share ideas online with less fear of government retribution.
Results related to the second question Q.2 What is the reality of the role of the electronic journalism in the political reform processes in Jordan from the perspective of the university students? To answer the second question, means and standard deviations were calculated.  Table (3) presents the respondents' attitudes towards the role of the electronic journalism in the political reform processes. It was found that these attitudes are positive. That's because the overall mean is 3.33 which is high. The overall standard deviation is 0.430.
The mean of statement (11) is 3.17 which is high and ranked first. The standard deviation of the latter statement is 0.810. The latter statement states the following: (News websites are mobilizing the largest number of supporters of political ideas). The mean of statement (14) is 3.11 which is high and ranked last. The standard deviation of the latter statement is 0.602. The latter statement states the following: (There are fundamental differences between the electronic and traditional press in presenting the subject of political reform).
The latter result may be attributed to the fact that the political reform processes is affected mainly by the extent of awareness that people have. Today, electronic media can easily promote awareness among people. That's because electronic news websites can be easily accessed due to the spread of ICT and internet services The results are consistent with Owen (2020) which reported that new media have both expanded and undercut the traditional roles of the press in a democratic society.
Abed Al-Razeq (2013) suggests that social media plays a significant role in shaping the university students' political attitudes Dashti (2009) reported that online journalism took a different direction from the local press, with more freedom to write, discuss, and share ideas online with less fear of government retribution.

Recommendations
In the light of the study's results, the researcher recommends the following: -Increasing the engagement of university students in electronic news websites and blogs. Such engagement shall promote political awareness among them -Creating a platform that include news websites. This platform must aim at promoting political awareness among students and assisting students in avoiding negative political content.