Foreword to Issue 28
We recognize the delay between issues, a result of the absence of coverage of Iraq media developments. There has been a loose resolution of the issue of a Higher Media Commission and its relationship to the National Communications and Media Commission and the Iraqi Media Network. The reconstituted Council will serve, and is serving, as a senior advisory group that assists in developing policy for the government, that evaluates and assesses performance, that charts new directions, and that helps to identify opportunities. How this will work out in practice depends on the strength of the NCMC and the IMN. The NCMC, with Siyamend Othman as CEO, has recruited a deputy, held training sessions for journalists in preparation for the election, and has been preparing tenders for national channels. The IMN saw the departure of Jalal al Mashta as director general. There have been serious debates about the management of the IMN and the future of its relationship with Harris Corp.
The relationship between Al Jazeera and the Prime Minister's office remains problematic. A lengthy and, in general, favourable article about Al Arabiya in the New York Times Magazine was indicative of a trend to look at that channel as "the reasonable" one in the competition for Iraqi (and Middle East) satellite space.
-Monroe Price
Posted by Matthew Burton on January 15, 2005 at 03:53 PM in From the Editors, Higher Media Commission, NCMC | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (131)
Foreword to Issue 27
We have had a hiatus of a few months in the publication of the Newsletter, but not because there is nothing to report. One reason is that we rely very much on accounts of Iraq media developments that occur in the English language press. Since the transfer of authority to the Interim government, and partly because of the security situation, there is less coverage of media development issues. Perhaps this is not deemed to have the same degree of importance as during the Coalition era, or because there are fewer journalists chasing for elements to cover. Perhaps it is because in the utter complexity of instability and struggles for power, the role of the media hasn't been adequately defined. The "there are hundreds of newspapers" and "competition among television channels" story has been repeatedly told.
Continue reading "Foreword to Issue 27"
Posted by Matthew Burton on November 16, 2004 at 03:49 PM in From the Editors, Higher Media Commission | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (173)
Reuters: Iraq Tells Media to Toe the Line
BAGHDAD - Iraq's media regulator warned news organizations Thursday to stick to the government line on the U.S.-led offensive in Fallouja or face legal action.
Invoking a 60-day state of emergency declared by Iraq's interim government ahead of the assault that began Monday, Iraq's Media High Commission said media should distinguish between insurgents and ordinary residents of the Sunni Muslim city.
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Posted by Matthew Burton on November 12, 2004 at 05:31 PM in Higher Media Commission | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (127)
Iraqi media body issues code of conduct, sanctions
From Baghdad's Al-Shira:
Muhammad Jasim Khudayr, member of the Higher Media Commission, has announced that the commission will start working within the coming few weeks and Ibrahim al-Janabi will most likely be selected as chairman.
In an interview with Al-Shira, to be published in full in the next issue, Khudayr revealed that the commission prepared a list of regulations to organize the work of the media called "Professional code document", which consists of nine points:
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Posted by Matthew Burton on October 9, 2004 at 05:46 PM in Higher Media Commission | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (102)
Foreword to Issue 26
This issue of the newsletter is largely about early relationships between the new interim government (headed by Prime Minister Allawi) and the NCMC (the media regulatory commission) and the Iraq public service broadcaster as emerged in the last months of the CPA. In this issue we wish to give special attention to the developments of the last weeks. On June 28, in the CPA's final order, Order 100, adjustments are made to previous orders, including Orders 14 and 65, to account for the transition of power and substitute new authorities for the governance responsibilities of the CPA. On July 27, the National Communications and Media Commission, the CPA-established media policy body, passed a formal broadcast code.
Continue reading "Foreword to Issue 26"
Posted by Matthew Burton on August 5, 2004 at 08:54 PM in CPA Orders, From the Editors, Higher Media Commission, NCMC | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (270)
Iraq: US watchdog "troubled" by formation of media commission
Text of letter from the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) to Iraqi Prime Minister Iyad Allawi, issued as a press release by the CPJ on 29 July
Your Excellency:
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is deeply troubled by the Iraqi interim government's formation of a media regulatory commission that reportedly will have the authority to restrict news coverage. The Financial Times reported on Tuesday 27 July that Iraqi officials had created a Higher Media Commission charged with regulating print and broadcast media in Iraq and empowered to impose sanctions, including closure, against outlets that cross "red lines" in their coverage. Ibrahim Janabi, whom Your Excellency appointed as head of the commission, said in an interview with The Financial Times that Iraqi officials were drafting a list of prohibitions on news coverage that would include banning certain criticisms of the prime minister. For example in the interview Janabi said broadcasters that air a sermon given last Friday by radical Shi'i cleric Muqtada al-Sadr, who made derogatory comments about Your Excellency during his speech, could be banned.
Janabi also told The Financial Times that if the Qatar-based satellitechannel Al-Jazeera, which aired part of the sermon, rebroadcasts thespeech, "we will give them two weeks to correct the policy and after that we will tell them sorry we need to close your office."
Today, CPJ interviewed Your Excellency's spokesman George Sada who, citing your letter authorizing the commission's formation, said the body was created to "organize the work of the media." However, Sada said he was unaware of Janabi's comments or the details of the commission's powers and activities.
Word of the new commission came one day after Iraqi Foreign Minister Hoshyar Zebari lashed out at Al-Jazeera and other pan-Arab broadcasters, accusing them of "one-sided and biased coverage of the situation in Iraq." In an interview with Al-Jazeera, he said: "We will not allow some people to hide behind the slogan of freedom of the press and media."
CPJ views these statements and reported regulations as a threat to press freedom in Iraq. The restrictive media regulations and censorship described by Janabi would undermine the very foundation of democratic society by restricting the free flow of information. If Iraqi officials move forward with this reported plan, it would represent a serious setback for press freedom in Iraq and call into question the interim government's commitment to basic standards of free expression.
As an organization of journalists dedicated to defending our colleagues worldwide, CPJ calls on you to publicly clarify the role and function of the Higher Media Commission and to ensure that any official regulation of the media conforms with international standards for a free press. We further call on you to ensure that Iraqi officials cease future threats of censorship and harassment against media.
Thank you for your attention to this important matter. We look forward to your reply.
Sincerely,
Ann K. Cooper
Executive Director
Source: Committee to Protect Journalists press release, New York, in
English 29 Jul 04
Posted by Vanessa Hetherington on July 29, 2004 at 02:59 PM in Higher Media Commission | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (50)
Media body chief talks about press guidelines
Text of report by Iraqi Al-Iraqiyah TV on 27 July
[Presenter] The president of the high commission of the media denied a British press report on potential restrictions on the media envisaged by a proposed law. He said the law would not restrict freedom of the press but the working of the media would be subject to a set of regulations.
[Reporter] In a report on the high commission, set up in the past few days to oversee the working of the Iraqi media, the Financial Times quoted the president of the committee, Ibrahim al-Janabi, as saying a law under consideration, known as the red lines, will put restrictions on freedom of the press. But Al-Janabi denied the report.
Continue reading "Media body chief talks about press guidelines"
Posted by Vanessa Hetherington on July 27, 2004 at 02:56 PM in Higher Media Commission | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (44)
Iraq sets up committee to impose restrictions on news reporting
Financial Times
By Nicolas Pelham in Baghdad
Published: July 27 2004 5:00 | Last Updated: July 27 2004 5:00
Iyad Allawi, Iraq's prime minister, has established a media committee to impose restrictions on print and broadcast media, a government official announced yesterday. The step underlines an aggressive new attitude towards press freedoms, in spite of US efforts to nurture independent media.
Ibrahim Janabi, appointed to head the new Higher Media Commission, told the FT the restrictions - known as "red lines" - had yet to be finalised, but would include unwarranted criticism of the prime minister. He singled out last Friday's sermon by Moqtada al-Sadr, a firebrand Shia cleric, who mocked Mr Allawi as America's "tail".
Continue reading "Iraq sets up committee to impose restrictions on news reporting"
Posted by Vanessa Hetherington on July 27, 2004 at 02:47 PM in Higher Media Commission, Press freedom | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (47)
