Iraq - Media

Media

After the end of the full state control in 2003, there were a period of significant growth in the broadcast media in Iraq. Immediately, and the ban on satellite dishes is no longer in place, and by mid-2003, according to a BBC report, there were 20 radio stations from 0.15 to 17 television stations owned by Iraqis, and 200 Iraqi newspapers owned and operated. Significantly, there have been many of these newspapers in numbers disproportionate to the population of their locations. For example, in Najaf, which has a population of 300,000, is being published more than 30 newspapers and distributed.

Iraqi media expert and author of a number of reports on this subject, Ibrahim Al Marashi, identifies four stages of the U.S. invasion of Iraq in 2003 where they had been taking the steps that have significant effects on the way for the later of the Iraqi media since then. Stages are: pre-invasion preparation, and the war and the actual choice of targets, the first post-war period, and a growing insurgency and hand over power to the Iraqi Interim Government (IIG) and Prime Minister Iyad Allawi.

Failed to plan for the war to outline an effective strategy for the post-war a number of reasons, a lack of expertise, funding, and authority, and the involvement of civilian aid organizations. During the war, were unheeded in the end the importance of leaving the existing structures for reconstruction after the war. And destroyed many of the local stations. After the war, and to participate in the process of de-Baathification and the abolition of the Ministry of Information and rely heavily on workers in the United States and Iraqi expatriates who have little connection to those in Iraq at that time and not enough focus on building local capacity. In addition, the looting and widespread destruction that took place immediately after the war does not exclude the media infrastructure.

Under the guidance of Ambassador L. Paul Bremer III as an administrator, and started the Coalition Provisional Authority (CPA) licensing of radio and television in the month of June 2003 to meet the great demand for broadcast licenses. Licenses issued by the Senior Adviser to the telecommunications Comprehensive Peace Agreement. Planning for the expected high demand, and the work of this office with the Comprehensive Peace Agreement, Iraqi engineers radio frequency spectrum and managers to develop a national FM-radio and television channel allocation plan for all Iraqi cities and major towns. Has developed a national plan with technical standards and the 1 (Europe, Africa and the Middle East) allocation plan developed years ago by the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the United Nations treaty. And the allocation of the plan consisted of hundreds of Iraqi Radio and TV stations for cities and towns. The channels in the allocation plan and then open to any person applying for a license to a specific channel.

Has developed the Comprehensive Peace Agreement are a few basic rules and regulations in June and July 2003 to provide limited control of the regulatory broadcasters. For example, was forbidden to broadcast incitement to riot. The objective of the CPA General to issue licenses for the provision of many a large number of different sounds, information, music, and news to satisfy the wishes and tastes of Iraqi citizens. CPA also recognized that the broadcast was a combination of business, and can be advertising, journalism, engineering, and entertainment and, as a broadcasting industry a strong and prosperous provide a large number of professional jobs excellent and highly desirable that would reduce the unemployment national. CPA also recognized that the commercial broadcasters can provide opportunities to build wealth on the successful broadcasters.

Issued the Iraqi Media Network (IMN0, a kind of network is similar to broadcastign public television network in the United States, and radio and television licenses under the Comprehensive Peace Agreement.

Continued its work in the CPA license to broadcast a national regulatory authority until June 2004 when it was founded the Communications and Media Commission of Iraq (CMC) and the national regulatory agency that will issue licenses and regulation of broadcasting and telecommunications.

The general result is that there are hundreds of radio stations and television operating in Iraq and provide a great variety of options for the Iraqi people.