IMS collaboration with Iraqi newspapers has lead to the establishment of a local network between Iraqi media partners

Iraq has seen a boom in new media outlets since 2003 when the downfall of the Saddam Hussein regime experienced a relaxation of restrictions against Iraqi media. Some have, however, had to close down again due to lack of financial means, but still a considerable number of media exist in Iraq today defying the daily dangers and challenges.

A major challenge for Iraqi media is how to secure professionally as well as financially the independence of media in the post-Saddam era. Also, the security situation in Iraq poses a special challenge to newspapers. Journalists and media practitioners are often targeted by armed groups. Furthermore, the lack of security makes the distribution of newspapers virtually impossible. This is a problem insofar that there are very few printing machines in the country wherefore transportation of newspapers is essential to bring the news out to the readers.

Support to local newspapers

IMS has followed the development of the media sector in Iraq closely since the regime change and issued a number of reports assessing and analyzing the situation. Today IMS is actively involved in cooperation with Iraqi media with the objective of supporting the strengthening of independent media in Iraq through activities that improve the journalistic, editorial as well as technical and managerial skills in local newspaper production.

IMS activities include a project whereby Iraqi newspapers, weekly magazines as well as a news agency get access to a comprehensive package consisting of know-how, inspiration as well as peer-to-peer support in long-term collaboration with Danish and regional media partners.

This project was initiated in 2006 following some research visits of Iraqi media actors to Denmark, where a group of ten Iraqi newspaper editors together with Danish editors designed a package tailored to match the needs of the Iraqis with the expertise offered by Danish media outlets. Since then workshops have followed including a seminar for the editors which offered training in managerial skills, business models, marketing and advertising as well as strategic thinking around opinion pages. The guest presenters counted, among others, the chief editor of the Danish daily newspaper "Information", the opinion editor of the Danish weekly "Weekendavisen" as well as the managing editor of the Lebanese weekly, "Al Akhbar". Later, training in journalistic skills including investigative journalism was organised in a separate seminar for journalists from the group of the partnering Iraqi newspapers.

IMS activities fostered local media network 

The activities have not only spurred interaction and close relations between Iraqi and Danish newspaper practitioners. An offspring of the entire project has been the launch of an official network, which was established by the ten participating Iraqi newspapers in the margins of the editors' seminar.

This marks the first step towards national coordination between Iraqi newspapers concerning activities and issues related to the media sector. It is considered an unusual and groundbreaking initiative in the Iraqi context as the participants represent different ethnic and religions groups in Iraq. With the internal conflict in Iraqi, the media find themselves increasingly challenged with the polarization and the pressure from local armed groups to take sides in the conflict thus risking losing their independence.

Based on the success of the activities so far, IMS plans to continue its activities to further strengthening professionalism of and networking between Iraqi newspapers. This includes financial support to employ a local coordinator, who will be based in Erbil.