Solomonia Archive: MEMRI from Baghdad

Tuesday, July 15, 2003

MEMRI has a new feature: A series of reports overviewing some of the editorials in the nascent Iraqi press.

Since the demise of Saddam Hussein's Ba'athist regime in Iraq, and with it the state control of the media, dozens of new free and uncensored daily and weekly newspapers are available to the Iraqi public. Some of these dailies are independent, but most are organs of one of the burgeoning political parties and groupings.

The following is the first in a series of reports issued by MEMRI's newly established office in Baghdad . The reports will provide a comprehensive overview of the new Iraqi press.

Impression: Lots of negativism and lots of, "Well, we have 'freedom,' but what good is it when manna doesn't fall out of the sky on demand..." Still, it's a promising start. As long as the marketplace of ideas stays strong, some authority stays around to clamp down on the truly damaging, irresponsible stuff and the government re-building keeps moving forward, this period of expression will leave an impression with the populace that will be difficult for future regimes to take away.

Posted by Solomon at 1:13 PM on Tuesday, Jul 15, 2003
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