By Sgt. 1st Class Joe Thompson
41st Fires Brigade
FORWARD OPERATING BASE DELTA, Iraq – Iraqi journalists gathered at the al Kut Hotel to discuss problems, challenges and possible solutions facing their profession in southern Iraq at a conference held from July 21- 23.
"You are all making history today by attending the first journalism conference in all of southern Iraq," said Vanessa Beary, Wasit provincial reconstruction team public diplomacy officer, in opening remarks at the conference.
"Some of what will be discussed over the next couple of days will inevitably be the role of a free press in a democracy," she said.
The conference, organized by Salah Al Rubaiei, Al-Sharqiyah Satellite, included Dr. Saad Mutashar, the head of the journalism department from the University of Baghdad; Dr. Raad Tahir Goran, the Dean of the College of Arts from Wasit University; and Dr. Ali Al Majdawi, the Dean of the College of Education at Wasit University. Majdawi led the panel and provided advice to the journalists, listened to ideas and posed possible solutions to the problems facing the journalists in Iraq.
Iraqi journalists did not always enjoy the same protection U.S. journalists have. They have faced kidnappings and jail time in the past. The improved security situation, due to the efforts of the Iraqi police and Iraqi army, is positively impacting journalism in Iraq.
"Journalists' rights are guaranteed by the Iraqi constitution and protected by the Iraqi security forces," said Beary. "Journalists (in the past) have been targeted for merely exercising their rights as journalists."
Lieutenant Colonel Timothy Bush, 2nd Battalion, 20th Field Artillery Regiment commander, also addressed the journalists attending the conference on the challenges that America faced in developing the freedom of the press.
"We had to change our constitution, to protect the rights of journalists," said Bush, a graduate of Bowling Green State University with a major in journalism. "That change was the First Amendment. In a free and open place of ideas, the truth will prevail."
Iraqi journalists often have to pay transmission fees out of their own pockets for sending their products to different media outlets. Also, their equipment is often bought with their own money, instead of their organization providing them the equipment they need to be able to do their job.
"Everybody has problems with finance," said Mutashar. "Help them with finance; help them by giving them training outside of Iraq to give them a broader perspective; and support them by buying equipment to do their jobs."
Iraqi journalists in Wasit and southern Iraq also have no place to receive formal training in journalism, said Mutashar. All of their experience comes from on-the-job training, which makes professional development difficult.
The journalists attending the conference were challenged, amidst the obstacles, to accept their responsibility of a free and independent press.
"A free press serves as the citizen watchdog over the government," said Beary. "The media inform the public about governmental activity and spark debate. Your job is not easy, as you are expected to hold public officials to the highest standards and report whether or not the government is maintaining the public trust."
| Date Taken: | 07.27.2008 |
| Date Posted: | 07.27.2008 17:03 |
| Story ID: | 21881 |
| Location: | AL KUT, IQ |
| Web Views: | 228 |
| Downloads: | 210 |
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