Zuhair Al-Jazairy, Iraqi Journalists’ Union
Newspapers are obviously very important in any society, but probably more so for Iraq in its current position. Pre-occupation there was only one newspaper - Ba’athist propaganda - but now there are approximately 115 newspapers. The public is not used to so much choice and are not sure what to trust.
Most old-wave journalists have returned from exile; they come mainly from intellectual/literary backgrounds. Many were trained in the propaganda-era and are not used to challenging authority. They were exiled in 3 waves, firstly during the Ba’athification of Iraq, later during Iran-Iraq War and finally during the UN Sanctions. On the other side, most new-wave journalists have very little experience of journalism. But they are a new generation, with a different culture.
Global media companies pose major problems because they can and do employ Iraqi media personnel to report for them for far greater pay than local newspapers. This is dangerous work, in a time of transition.
There is a ‘hidden militia’, i.e. tribal and religious groups that target newspapers and staff. Correspondents and journalists must avoid being targeted and kidnapped. For this reason one needs to temper language when writing about these groups. Companies, when criticised, can hire militias to target media personnel. There is also a threat from the US military, if you are seen as anti-Iraqi-journalists. Journalists have been shot by US snipers, dubbed ‘unknown killers’ and no investigations take place.
Theoretically journalists are now free to criticise the current authorities, the US military and Iraqi Government, but there is no guarantee of this freedom as it could be withdrawn at any time as this right is not protected by law.
At military press conferences, journalists who are not sympathetic to authorities have been accused of ‘encouraging violence’. But there is a fine line between freedom and responsibility. There is a responsibility not to inflame hostilities with an armed population - careless reporting could create large-scale internal conflict.
There can be no free and independent trade unions without free and independent media and there is no guarantee of this - 'one person’s terrorist is another person’s freedom fighter.'
Journalism is still considered a good profession, especially for women. Female journalists (wearing headscarves) have been sent to Fallujah safely as they have sensitivity and are treated respectfully by militias.
Broadcast journalists used to also be covered by this union, but they will probably be separate in the future
There was a change of leadership after discovery of financial corruption and of government involvement in the selection of new committee members. The present government does not have experience of labour relations and there is currently no mechanism or structure to lobby government with. We need to be deciding for ourselves how we want the union to develop.
Posted at August 5, 2005 10:28 AM