Local media in transitional fragile states: The cases of Iraq and Libya | Intellect Skip to content
1981
Volume 7, Issue 2
  • ISSN: 2634-4726
  • E-ISSN: 2206-5857

Abstract

Local media that cater to their local communities are still rare in Arab countries due to government control and centralization of media production. In some transitional states, however, we observe a mushrooming of new local small media initiatives after regulation modes have changed. Yet, these media operate in often fragile states in which a sustainable development of autonomous media is difficult to achieve. In this study, we investigate how local media in Iraq and Libya unfolded and developed over the past decade(s) after regime change. We map the status quo and compare the proliferation of small local media in both countries against the backdrop of media capture and flawed media regulation – patterns that are typical for transitional states.

Funding
This study was supported by the:
  • Arab-German Young Academy of Sciences and Humanities
Loading

Article metrics loading...

/content/journals/10.1386/jacm_00109_1
2023-05-16
2024-04-19
Loading full text...

Full text loading...

References

  1. Al-Kaisy, Aida (2019), A Fragmented Landscape: Barriers to Independent Media in Iraq, London: Middle East Centre, London School of Economics and Political Science.
    [Google Scholar]
  2. Al-Rawi, Ahmed (2012), Media Practice in Iraq, Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan.
    [Google Scholar]
  3. Al-Shuwaikh, Ismail (2019), chairman of the Public Authority for Information, personal communication with co-author Reda Fhelboom, October, Tripoli, Lybia.
  4. AMARC-OXFAM (2015), Les radios associatives et communautaires en Tunisie: Etat des lieux 2015, Paris: Association mondiale des radiodiffuseurs communautaires, http://www.signis.org.br/userfiles/redacao/signisnet/pdf/amarc-oxfam_etat_medias_associatifs_tunisienov2015.pdf. Accessed 26 October 2021.
    [Google Scholar]
  5. Atton, Chris (2015), ‘Introduction: Problems and positions in alternative and community media’, in C. Atton (ed.), The Routledge Companion to Alternative and Community Media, London: Routledge, pp. 118.
    [Google Scholar]
  6. Awad, Abir and Eaton, Tim (2013), ‘The media of Iraq ten years on: The problems, the progress, the prospects’, Policy Briefing 8, London: BBC Media Action.
    [Google Scholar]
  7. Badran, Yazan (2020), ‘Strategies and (survival) tactics: The case of Syrian oppositional media in Turkey’, Journal of Alternative & Community Media, 5:1, pp. 6985, https://doi.org/10.1386/joacm_00075_1.
    [Google Scholar]
  8. Badran, Yazan, Loisen, Jan and Smets, Kevin (2022), ‘Local associative media in Tunisia and the value of voice’, Journal of North African Studies, 27:5, pp. 92852, https://doi.org/10.1080/13629387.2021.1878888.
    [Google Scholar]
  9. Brookings Institution (2007), ‘Iraq index. Tracking variables of reconstruction & security in post-Saddam Iraq’, 21 December, https://www.brookings.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/index20071221.pdf. Accessed 25 September 2021.
  10. Buckley, Steve, Duer, Kreszentia, Mendel, Toby and O’Siochrú, Sean O. (2011), Broadcasting, Voice, and Accountability: A Public Interest Approach to Policy, Law, and Regulation, Washington, DC: World Bank, http://hdl.handle.net/10986/15815. Accessed 26 October 2021.
    [Google Scholar]
  11. Coronel, Sheila S. (2010), ‘Corruption and the watchdog role of the news media’, in P. Norris (ed.), Public Sentinel: News Media & Governance Reform, Washington, DC: World Bank, pp. 11117.
    [Google Scholar]
  12. Deane, James (2013), ‘Fragile states: The role of media and communication’, Policy Briefing 10, London: BBC Media Action, http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/mediaaction/policybriefing/fragile_states_policy_briefing.pdf. Accessed 26 October 2021.
    [Google Scholar]
  13. Dowson-Zeidan, Najla, Eaton, Tim and Wespieser, Karen (2014), ‘After the revolution. Libyan and Tunisian media through the people’s eyes’, Working Paper Issue 8, London: BBC Media Action, http://downloads.bbc.co.uk/rmhttp/mediaaction/pdf/research/libya_tunisia_media.pdf. Accessed 26 October 2021.
    [Google Scholar]
  14. El Issawi, Fatima (2013), ‘Transitional Libyan media: Free at last?’, The Carnegie Papers, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace and POLIS, http://repository.essex.ac.uk/16992/1/transitional_libyan_media.pdf. Accessed 26 October 2021.
    [Google Scholar]
  15. Ferree, Myra M., Gamson, William A., Gerhards, Jürgen and Rucht, Dieter (2002), ‘Four models of the public sphere in modern democracies’, Theory and Society, 31:3, pp. 289324.
    [Google Scholar]
  16. Groth, Stefanie (2013), ‘Citizens’ radio in North Africa and the Middle East: Meaningful change through citizen empowerment? An experience from Tunis’, Global Media Journal – German Edition, 3:2, pp. 119, https://www.db-thueringen.de/servlets/MCRFileNodeServlet/dbt_derivate_00028716/GMJ6_Groth_final.pdf. Accessed 26 October 2021.
    [Google Scholar]
  17. Karam, Zeina and Abdul-Zahra, Qassim (2021), ‘Explainer: Why do Iraq’s elections matter to the world?’, AP News, 9 October, https://apnews.com/article/coronavirus-pandemic-iraq-iran-middle-east-baghdad-fc87dc1aa2ba7ed92757536b7b77073a. Accessed 26 October 2021.
    [Google Scholar]
  18. Labidi, Kamel (2017), ‘Tunisia’s media barons wage war on independent media regulation’, in A. Schiffrin (ed.), In the Service of Power: Media Capture and the Threat to Democracy, Washington, DC: Center for International Media Assistance, pp. 12535.
    [Google Scholar]
  19. Mancini, Paolo (2012), ‘Instrumentalization of the media vs. political parallelism’, Chinese Journal of Communication, 5:3, pp. 262280, https://doi.org/10.1080/17544750.2012.701415.
    [Google Scholar]
  20. Media in Cooperation and Transition (ed.) (2012), Reinventing the Public Sphere in Libya: Observations, Portraits and Commentary on a Newly Emerging Media Landscape, Berlin: Media in Cooperation and Transition.
    [Google Scholar]
  21. Media Ownership Monitor (n.d.), ‘Methodology’, http://www.mom-gmr.org/en/about/mom/methodology/. Accessed 28 March 2023.
  22. Prior, Lindsay (2003), Using Documents in Social Research, London: Sage Publications.
    [Google Scholar]
  23. Relly, Jeannine E., Zanger, Margaret and Fahmy, Shahira (2015), ‘News media landscape in a fragile state: Professional ethics perceptions in a post-Baathist Iraq’, Mass Communication and Society, 18:4, pp. 47197.
    [Google Scholar]
  24. Richter, Carola (2004), Das Mediensystem in Libyen – Akteure und Entwicklungen. Beiträge Medien und Politische Kommunikation – Naher Osten und islamische Welt, Hamburg: Deutsches Orient-Institut.
    [Google Scholar]
  25. Richter, Carola and Kozman, Claudia (eds) (2021), Arab Media Systems, Cambridge: Open Book Publishers, https://doi.org/10.11647/OBP.0238.
    [Google Scholar]
  26. Rozumilowicz, Beata (2002), ‘Democratic change. A theoretical perspective’, in M. E. Price, S. G. Verhulst and B. Rozumilowicz (eds), Media Reform. Democratizing the Media, Democratizing the State, London: Routledge, pp. 926.
    [Google Scholar]
  27. Sakr, Naomi (2016), ‘Survival or sustainability? Contributions of innovatively managed news ventures to the future of Egyptian journalism’, Journal of Media Business Studies, 13:1, pp. 4559, https://doi.org/10.1080/16522354.2015.1125608.
    [Google Scholar]
  28. Schneckener, Ulrich (2006), ‘Fragile statehood, armed non-state actors and security governance’, in A. Bryden and M. Caparini (eds), Private Actors and Security Governance, Berlin: LIT and DCAF, pp. 2340.
    [Google Scholar]
  29. Sins, Brigitte (2011), Making the Media in Iraq and Kurdistan, an assessment by International Media Support 2011, Copenhagen: IMS.
    [Google Scholar]
  30. Školkay, Andrej (2020), ‘An exploratory study of global and local discourses on social media regulation’, Global Media Journal – German Edition, 10:1, pp. 151, https://globalmediajournal.de/index.php/gmj/article/view/7. Accessed 17 April 2023.
    [Google Scholar]
  31. Stremlau, Nicole (2013), ‘Towards a diagnostic approach to media in fragile states. Examples from the Somali territories’, Media, War & Conflict, 6:3, pp. 27993.
    [Google Scholar]
  32. Voltmer, Katrin (2013), The Media in Transitional Democracies, Cambridge, MA: Polity.
    [Google Scholar]
  33. Wintour, Patrick (2021), ‘Libya: Credible elections – Or another failed bid at nation-building?’, The Guardian, 29 September, https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/sep/29/libya-credible-elections-or-another-failed-bid-at-nation-building. Accessed 26 October 2021.
    [Google Scholar]
  34. Wollenberg, Anja (2018), Medien und Demokratie in Irak. Öffentlichkeit im Kontext von Transformation und Gewalt, Wiesbaden: VS Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften.
    [Google Scholar]
  35. Wollenberg, Anja (2022), ‘Iraq: Citizens are finally taking media into account’, in S. Fengler, T. Eberwein and M. Karmasin (eds), The Global Handbook of Media Accountability, London and New York: Routledge, pp. 28797.
    [Google Scholar]
  36. Wollenberg, Anja, El-Richani, Sarah and Jekta, Maral (2017), ‘In defense of the Iraqi Media: Between fuelling conflict and healthy pluralism’, Global Media Journal – German Edition, 7:1, pp. 118, https://www.db-thueringen.de/servlets/MCRFileNodeServlet/dbt_derivate_00038862/GMJ13_Wollenberg_Richani_Jekta_final.pdf. Accessed 26 October 2021.
    [Google Scholar]
  37. Wollenberg, Anja and Pack, Jason (2013), ‘Rebels with a pen. Observations on the newly emerging media landscape in Libya’, Journal of North African Studies, 18:2, pp. 191210.
    [Google Scholar]
  38. Wollenberg, Anja and Richter, Carola (2020), ‘Political parallelism in transitional media systems: The case of Libya’, International Journal of Communication, 14, pp. 117393, https://ijoc.org/index.php/ijoc/article/view/12698/2983. Accessed 26 October 2021.
    [Google Scholar]
  39. Richter, Carola, Wollenberg, Anja and Fhelboom, Reda (2022), ‘Local media in transitional fragile states: The cases of Iraq and Libya’, Journal of Alternative & Community Media, 7:2, pp. 13755, https://doi.org/10.1386/jacm_00109_1
    [Google Scholar]
http://instance.metastore.ingenta.com/content/journals/10.1386/jacm_00109_1
Loading
/content/journals/10.1386/jacm_00109_1
Loading

Data & Media loading...

  • Article Type: Article
Keyword(s): Arab; community media; media policy; media regulation; radio; transformation
This is a required field
Please enter a valid email address
Approval was a success
Invalid data
An error occurred
Approval was partially successful, following selected items could not be processed due to error