Chapter Three: Society & Areas of Conflict

Iraqi society consists of several religious, ethnic and social groups. However, Iraqis are equal citizens before the law without discrimination based on sex, race, nationality, religion, sect, or the belief.

Islam is considered the official religion of the state, as 97% of the population are Muslims. Sunni and Shiit sects are the two fundamental components of this religion in the Iraqi society.

Islam is spread all over Iraq and then comes Christianity, Sabians, Mandaeans and Yazidis.

Christianity is considered the second followed religion after Islam, and it is acknowledged by the Iraqi constitution, including 14 Christian denominations in the country. They all speak Arabic, in addition to small percentage of Syriac and Armenian speakers. 

Christians reside in all governorates of Iraq in various numbers, but the larger numbers are concentrated in Baghdad and in northren Iraq, especially in Nineveh valley next to Mosul.

Arabs compose the majority of the population (75-80% of the total population), followed by the Kurds (12-18%).

This diversity and mixture have resulted in the emergence of different groups and communities, where different religion believes or ethnicities are merged. For example, there is a group called “Al-Shabak”, that lives in east of Musel, and includes different nationalities; Arabs, Kurds and Turkmans.

The main three nationalities in Iraq, are Arabs, Kurds and Turkmans. 

Dr. Sarmad Ahmad Alsalmani

Iraq’s contemporary history, according to many observers, is divided into two parts, the first one refers to the era before 2003 and the second is after 2003. The conflict areas have changed between the two eras, and this is due to the political, demographic and geopolitical change in Iraq. This change has also overshadowed the media, which became more open and free with multi-outlets and satellite channels.

This change has led to broader and bigger media landscape and that is why we see how media coverage of conflict areas vary between the different media outlets. This difference is usually attributed to the finance, the political orientation, the policy, and the strategy of the channel.

For an example, if we look at the media landscape today, we see that terrorism is one of the most issues discussed by the media. Indeed, Iraq today is where terrorism is practiced massively, and where the conflict zones are increasing. Therefore, TV channels discuss the issue accordingly, but we can’t find any of them who discusses it impartially and objectively.

These channels are divided into those who do not give much importance to terrorism and ISIS threat, and this is related to the channels policy.

The other part includes the channels who inflate the issue beyond reality. This is also due to political reasons but also could be due to problematic professional morals.

We look today for channels that discuss these issues impartially, objectively and accurately, which can portray the threats of ISIS and its ideology. We are facing today not only an ideological invasion, but also an intellectual invasion that is storming our region.

Chapter four: General Information about the Media System

The Iraqi media have changed a lot in the aftermath of 2003, especially the widespread of newspapers and the freedom of publishing, in the absence of any regulations.  

And after the diminishing of the copyright regulations, which were prevalent in Iraq under Saddam's regime, and the decision of the head of civil administration, Bremer, to dismantle the ministry of information, which was responsible for regulating the copyright in IrThe “Iraqi Media Network” was established. It was a semi-governmental institution that adopted the publishing of a daily newspaper called “Alsabah”, other TV and Radio channels, and some other print media. The head of this network is appointed by the Prime Minister, and it is directly subject to the government.

“Alsabah” newspaper is the most important newspaper in Iraq, considering the big financial support it receives from the government, and it’s viewed by the population as the official mouthpiece of the government. This paper makes large profits due to its monopoly over the governmental ads. It was established in 19.5.2003, its first chief editor was Ismail Zayer, and it’s still published until today.

The second most popular newspaper is “Azzaman” and it’s an international Iraqi paper, published by “Azzaman Institute for Journalism and Publishing”. Its founder and head of its board is Saa’d Albazzaz. Its first trial edition was published in 1.4.1998 in London. Later on, a first-in Iraq-edition was published in Basra province in 9.4.2003 following the American invasion. The paper is printed with “The Basra edition” stamp on its first page as it was published in Bahrain and distributed in Basra. Its chief editor is Dr. Ahmad Abd Elmajid.

Then comes “Almada” newspaper, which is an independent newspaper, published by “Almada Institute for Culture and Arts”, founded by Fakhri Karim. Its first edition was published in 5.8.2003. It started to issue twice a week, and later it became a daily. The institution has a private printing house, a publish house and an advertising company. Almada started as an Arab magazine, featuring many of prominent Arab intellectuals.

There is another newspaper called “Al-Ittihad Al-Kurdistani”. It is a political daily, that it belongs to the Kurdish National Union. It is the first Kurdish paper published in Arabic in the Kurdish part of Iraq. Its first edition was published in 24.10.1992 in the Erbil governorate, and one of its main missions was to defend the Kurds’ rights in Iraq. After the invasion of Iraq in 2003, “Al-Ittihad” became the first Iraqi newspapers to be published in Baghdad, it was in 22.4.2003 and it was its 539 edition.  

As for the radios, “Radio Dijla” is considered the first commercial radio station in Iraq, which adopted the format of “call in” programs, regardless of the listeners political, ideological, partisan, ethnic, or religious affiliation. It was established in 2004 by the journalist Ahmad Al-Ruqabi.

Radio “Almutamar” was founded in 2005 with the direct guidance and financing of the politician Ahmed Jalabi, head of the National Congress. It is a secular radio station that promotes democracy and the agenda of its owner. Its CEO is Entifad Qanbar, and it broadcasts from Baghdad.

As for the TV satellite channels, “Al Iraqiya” channel was the first semi-official Iraqi channel, that belongs to the Iraqi Media Network. Its programs are diverse, including entertainment, sports, cultural, religious, development and political. A department for drama production was established, which had produced many drama productions that were screened on the “Iraqiya”.

“Al Sharqiya” channel is an Iraqi satellite channel that started the broadcast in 4.5.2004 from Dubai, Erbil, London and Amman, on Satellites Arabsat, Nilesat and Hotbird.

Al Sharqiya is the first Iraqi channel owned by the private sector and has reporters in different countries around the world.

It is considered the most watched Iraqi channel and has one of the most financial and human capacities in the Arab world. It relies on commercial advertising and owned by the prominent media figure, Saa’d Albazzaz.

“Al Baghdadia” is another Iraqi satellite channel based in Cairo. It started to broadcast in 12.9.2005, owned and founded by A’wn Hussain Alkhashluk. Some of its reporters were killed during the violent events in Iraq. It has offices in Amman and Damascus, and licensed in Beirut, Sweden, Norway, Netherlands and Australia.

“Afaq” satellite channel, belongs to the “Islamic Da’wa party”, headed by Nouri al-Malki.

“Alforat” satellite channel, belongs to the Islamic Supreme Council of Iraq, headed by Sayed Ammar al-Hakim.

اخذ الإعلام العراقي منحا جديدا بعد عام 2003 وبالذات الصحف بعد الانتشار الواسع وحرية اصدارها في ظل غياب آية قوانيين وانظمة ضابطة.

وبعد ايقاف العمل بقوانيين الطبع والنشر التي كانت سائدة في العراق في عهد نظام صدام وبقرار الحاكم المدني بريمر بالغاء وزارة الإعلام التي كانت معنية بشكل اساسي بمتابعة سير انظمة النشر والطبع في العراق.

تم تشكيل شبكة الإعلام العراقية وهي مؤسسة شبه رسمية تبنت اصدار جريدة يومية سميت بجريدة الصباح وعدة قنوات واذاعة ومجموعة من المطبوعات يتم تعيين من يرأس هذه الشبكة من قبل رئيس الوزراء العراقي وهي تخضع لسلطة الحكومة بشكل غير مباشر.

بالنسبة لاهم الصحف في العراق تترأسها جريدة الصباح وهي الجريدة الاولى في البلد من حيث الامكانيات  المادية التي تتمتع بها فهي تتلقى تمويل ودعم حكومي واسع وهي معروفة في الشارع على انها الصحيفة الرسمية الناطقة باسم الحكومة. تحقق هذه الصحيفة ارباحا هائلة بفضل احتكارها الاعلانات التي تعود لمؤسسات الدولة، تاسست هذه الجريدة في 19/5/2003 وكان اول رئيس تحرير لهذه الجريدة اسماعيل زاير ومازالت متواصلة في الصدور.

الجريدة الثانية هي جريدة الزمان وهي جريدة عراقية دولية تصدر عن مؤسسة الزمان للصحافة والنشر، مؤسسها ورئيس مجلس ادارتها سعد البزاز صدر العدد التجريبي الاول في 1/4/1998 في لندن، فيما صدر العدد الاول منها في العراق بعد الاحتلال الامريكي في 9/4/2003 في محافظة البصرة ويحمل في ترويستها عبارة طبعة البصرة حيث كانت تطبع في دولة البحرين وتوزع في البصرةيشغل رئاسة تحرير هذه الصحيفة هو الدكتوراحمد عبد المجيد.

بعدها تأتي جريدة المدى وهي جريدة أهلية ذات اتجاه مستقل تصدر عن مؤسسة المدى للثقافة والفنون لصاحبها فخري كريم، صدر العدد الاول منها في5/8/2003م وكانت في بادئ الامر تصدر بشكل اسبوعي ثممرتين في الاسبوع ثم بعد ذلك أصبحت يومية، تصدرعنها مطبعة خاصة ودار توزيع وأسست شركة للإعلانات، البدايات الاولى للمدى كانت بشكل مجلة عربية تضم في اسرة تحريرها ابرز مثقفي العالم العربي.

هناك صحيفة أخرى وهي جريدة الاتحاد الكردستاني وهي صحيفة يومية سياسية وهي الصحيفة المركزية للاتحاد الوطني الكردستاني واول صحيفة كردية ناطقة بالعربية تصدر في منطقة كردستان العراق، صدر العدد الاول منها في 24/10/1992 في محافظة اربيل، كان من ضمن أهداف هذه الجريدة هو الدفاع عن حقوق الاكراد في العراق وبعد احتلال العراق عام 2003 كانت الاتحاد هي من أوائل الصحف العراقية التي صدرت في بغداد اذ صدر العدد (539) منها في 22/4/2003.

هذا فيما يخص الصحف اما الاذاعات فيعد راديو دجلة الإذاعة التجارية الأولى في العراق التي اعتمدت أسلوب الحوارات الهاتفية مع المستمعين، بغض النظر عن انتماءاتهم الفكرية، والحزبية، والدينية، والعرقية. أسسها الاعلامي أحمد الركابي عام 2004.

راديو المؤتمر، تاسست في 2005 بتوجيه مباشر وتمويل من السياسي احمد الجلبي رئيس المؤتمر الوطني والذي يشرف عليها، وهي اذاعة علمانية تروج للديمقراطية وسياسة مالكها، مديرها التنفيذي انتفاض قنبر وهي تبث من بغداد.

اما ما يخص القنوات الفضائية فقناة العراقية هي القناة شبه الرسمية للدولة العراقية تابعة لشبكة الإعلام العراقي، حيث تتنوع في برامجها بين المنوعة والرياضة والثقافية والدينية والتنموية والسياسية، كما تم استحداث دائرة تعني بالانتاج الدرامي انجزت العديد من الاعمال الدرامية تبث على شاشة العراقية.

قناة الشرقية وهي قناة فضائية عراقية منوعة بدأت البث في 4/5/2004 تبث من دبي بالإضافة إلى أربيل ولندن وعمان، وتبث على أقمار عربسات ونايل سات وهوتبيرد.

 الشرقية هي أول قناة عراقية مملوكة للقطاع الخاص وتملك عدد من المراسلين في العديد من مدن بلدان العالم.

حيث تعتبر القناة الأولى عراقيا ومن القنوات الأولى في الوطن العربي من حيث الإمكانيات البشرية المادية وتعتمد في تمويلها على الاعلانات التجارية.يملك القناة الاعلامي البارز سعد البزاز.

قناة البغدادية فضائية عراقية مقرها في القاهرة، ابتدأ البث يوم 12/9/2005 مالكها ومؤسسها هو المهندس عون حسين الخشلوك، قتل عدد من مراسليها البارزين اثناء اعمال العنف في العراق، ولها مكاتب في عمان ودمشق، وتفويض في بيروت والسويد والنرويج وهولندا وأستراليا.

قناة آفاق، قناة فضائية عراقية تابعة لحزب الدعوة الإسلامية برئاسة نوري المالكي.

قناة الفرات، وهي قناة فضائية عراقية تابعة إلى المجلس الأعلى الإسلامي العراقي برئاسة سيد عمار الحكيم.