Before the fall of Saddam Hussein's regime, the only media in Iraq was government run. There was no chance to express a second opinion, said Hamdi, an Iraqi newspaper editor.
"Since the arrival of the liberating forces, a new page in the life of Iraq has begun as far as the media is concerned," he said on Thursday. "All the political and social forces, religions and different ethnic groups in Iraq - the components that together form the Iraqi social fabric - can have their own media outlets."
Hamdi's comments came during a panel titled "Media and Democracy in Iraq." The panel brought four Iraqi journalists to AU to discuss the opportunities and challenges resulting from the war.
Hamdi called the new availability of information the "picture of democracy" that emerged in Iraq after the fall of the regime. The plethora of media outlets now available reflects the freedom Iraqis have begun to enjoy, he said.
"It created an atmosphere of freedom and freedom of expression," said Hamdi. "This is something that we really appreciate and is more widespread than other pictures you see of Iraq."
He and the other panelists noted that Iraqi journalists are still learning about professional standards and ethics. Before the war, they had no experience or journalistic training.
In addition to the challenges of starting work in a new field, being a journalist in Iraq is also very risky.
"Iraq has become one of the most dangerous zones in the world since the start of the war," said Basim, editor of an Iraqi newspaper.
He said many journalists have been killed in Iraq while on duty or in their own homes. In fact, Basim himself frequently receives death threats.
"On days when I don't receive a threat, I ask myself what is going on," he said.
"We work under very difficult conditions. But we consider ourselves some of the most daring and courageous journalists. We feel we really have to shape the freedom that was given to us. This is a public service we have to put forth now that we have the opportunity."
Basim said he feels the hard work and risks are paying off. The media is now an important element in shaping public opinion, he said, providing a service Iraqis did not know about before the fall of the regime.
The panelists also noted differences in what Iraqis and Americans look for in their media. For example, very few Iraqis are looking for entertainment, said Walid, a director at a Baghdad TV channel.
"Viewers and listeners want to hear about what concerns their daily lives," he said. "In the case of the Iraqi people that includes security problems, political problems, economic problems, lack of services and administrative corruption."
People would like the media to solve all their problems, added Anwar, a director at a Basrah TV channel. She said Iraqis view the media as a tool to put pressure on government officials and act as a watchdog.
Anwar noted that all journalists face the same problems, but there are much fewer women journalists than men because of the dangers journalists face. According to Iraqi traditions, women should be protected, she said.
"When a woman is killed, this is very serious to us as Muslims and as Iraqis," said Anwar. As a result, Iraqi families try to dissuade their daughters from going into journalism.
"But this is not preventing many of us, including myself, from going out and being journalists."
Basim said the death threats to journalists typically occur because democracy and freedom is a new phenomenon for the Iraqi people. This can lead to misunderstandings and misinterpretations of what is presented in the media. If a political party reads something about themselves, they may interpret it as a criticism and go on the offensive, he said. One of the threats he received is from Al-Qaeda.
"I'm proud to have received a death threat from Al-Qaeda," said Basim. "It means I am winning."
The panel was sponsored by the SIS International Communication Program and the Meridian International Center. Professor Shalini Venturelli moderated the
panel.
