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August 05, 2003
Encore Ideology over practicality: Clumsy Communciations
The New York Times had an interesting report on news consumption among Iraqis and issues.
"Iraqis Get the News but Often Don't Believe It"
http://www.nytimes.com/2003/08/05/international/worldspecial/05MEDI.html?hp=&pagewanted=all&position=
However an item to note, again in re the degree to which this effort is too ideological is the following commentary - reporting regarding the CPA-I's captive local station - losing out badly it appears to al-Jazeerah and al-Arabiyah. This no doubt explains Wolfowitz's recent flight of pique regarding al-Jazeerah and al-Arabiyah "bias."
"Many Iraqis complain that the network's televised programming is dull and repetitive. The network, which is managed by a Pentagon contractor, has been criticized by some of its own officials, who contend that its credibility has been hurt by meddling by occupation officials and a bare-bones budget.
Its television director, Ahmad al-Rikaby, said he quit in protest last week over the network's limited resources. "You cannot make television if you do not spend money," he said an interview from London.
Don North, a television producer who has just returned to the United States after serving as an adviser to the network, said he grew frustrated by orders to run programs that in his view were not sound journalism, as well as a slim budget.
"Its role was envisioned to be an information conduit, and not just rubber-stamp flacking for the C.P.A.," Mr. North said, referring to the civilian authority.
In response, a senior Iraqi Media Network official said that the network had been spending lots of money on new equipment to ease a shortage that he said was partly due to difficulties getting the staff to agree on what was needed. The official also acknowledged that new programming was needed, saying the network was working to develop some new shows quickly.
Officials say that some form of propaganda was always part of the plan. "I would not deny that they are in many ways a mouthpiece for what the coalition has done," including the broadcasting of public service announcements, said Charles Heatley, a spokesman for the civilian authority here. He said the reach of the network was demonstrated two weeks ago when Baghdad erupted in celebratory gunfire after the network broadcast reports that Uday and Qusay Hussein had been killed by American forces."
That last bit is a non sequitur insofar as other sources, e.g. the Sat stations and word of mouth from that are as explanatory.
So, we're going to run pro-American agitprop that virtually no one watches to keep some bumblefuck mid Western overseer happy.
Posted by The Lounsbury at August 5, 2003 11:47 AM
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Jan-Dec 2003
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