Satellite dishes on roof
Call to prayer/Radio broadcast
00:00
Thompson: On Baghdad's skyline, a once forbidden forest of satellite dishes is in full bloom.
Since the end of the war, these round windows to the outside world have been rolling into Iraq.
00:37
Sikhi with children
Sikhi: This is the youngest son
00:47
TV Program excerpts
Thompson: Thanks to his university job, Professor Abdul-a Hussain Sikhi's family can afford, unlike many, to buy a dish --
an act which would have sent him to jail under Saddam Hussein.
01:03
Sikhi with children
Sikhi: This affects the education and the knowledge of the whole family, so now we are sitting in this room more than we used to do in previous days.
Thompson: Youre becoming TV addicts?
Sikhi: Yeah, right.
Thompson: Just like the west?
01:13
Sikhi: Yeah, sometimes, you know, we spend the whole day sitting here, shifting channels just to see whats happening around us in the world.
01:39
News broadcast
Reporter: The killing of a number of American soldiers and others injured an Khaldiya
01:52
Propaganda song
TV Song: Oh love, we love the leader Saddam the President and father. Oh love, we love the leader
02:02
Thompson: Pre-war Iraqis were fed a strict TV diet of Saddam worship, variety shows and propaganda bulletins dressed up as news.
02:11
Bombed Information Ministry
Music
Thompson: The days of Iraq's free press ended the moment that Saddam Hussein's Ba'ath Party came to power in 1968. Over the next three decades Iraq's media was beaten into becoming little more than a mouthpiece helping to prop up Saddam Hussein's regime. And this was control central, Iraq's Information Ministry where local and visiting foreign journalists were cajoled and controlled right up until just hours before this building was blown apart by American missiles.
02:40
Bombed TV station
This television station was also destroyed.
03:14
Thompson with Al'aa at TV station
Thompson: So a bomb landed straight on the middle of your office Al'aa: Yes, seven missiles fallen on this building.
Thompson: Seven missiles?
Al'aa: Yeah.
Thompson: Al'aa Al-Juburi was working as a journalist at the Iraqi Satellite Channel in the days before it was struck.
03:26
This station was directly controlled by Saddam's son Uday.
03:40
Al'aa: This is my editing area.
Thompson: And what happened to all the equipment?
Al'aa: This is the equipment.
Thompson: And what's this on the floor?
Al'aa: This is poster.
Thompson: What's that poster about? What does it say?
03:54
Al'aa: Iraqi satellite channel, show our program, show our truth.
04:03
Thompson: And how much of what people saw on the Iraqi satellite channel was true?
Al'aa: True? I think not all things shown from Iraqi satellite channel was truth
Thompson: Most of it was lies?
Al'aa: Yes I think it was the policy of any channel to serve them, the government.
Newspaper sellers
Music
04:37
Thompson: Serving Saddam was the sole purpose of the handful of newspapers available under his regime.
A staggering 180 new papers have entered the market since the end of the war.
04:57
Some are party-political, others religious. Only a few are credible and widely popular
Newspaper seller
Newspaper seller: The most ... Al Sabah, Al Azzaman, Al Shahed those are the most in demand here, because they are honest and direct.
05:13
Other newspapers exaggerate they are not popular.
05:54
Nada in office
Thompson: Nada Shawket is supervising editor of one of Iraqs most credible papers, Al Azzaman.
05:39
Nada: It says things as they are.
05:47
Nada
Maybe another newspaper that is supported by certain parties like Al Sabah that is the coalition newspaper, or newspapers owned by political parties, might put out views with a partisan point of view.
05:50
Press for Stars and Stripes and Al Sabah
Thompson: Few Iraqis get to read the American military newspaper, Stars and Stripes.
06:06
Yet many read its stable mate. The American-backed Al Sabah is Iraqs biggest selling daily.
With Coalition funding, it sells for a third of the price of its competitors.
Khoury: There are complaints.
06:23
Khoury
People say youre supporting a particular media, why not all of us?
06:31
Thompson: An American of Lebanese descent, Nabeel Khoury is the Arabic spokesman for the US State Department.
06:40
Khoury: Ultimately what we hope will be built in Iraq is a free society
Khoury
Super: Nabeel Khoury
U.S. State Department
where the private sector plays a major role. Therefore what the CPA, the provisional authority is doing here is temporarily sponsoring an official media outlet.
06:52
Alaa with Woman
Alaa: Are you one of the refugees?
Woman: My two brothers were taken by Saddam Hussein, and executed. Alaa: Were you in Iran?
Woman: No, I was in Baghdad, but he forced all my family to leave for Iran -- my brothers came here and he killed them.
07:11
Alaa
Thompson: In post-Saddam Iraq Alaa Al-Jabouri now reports for the Coalition-backed television station, the Iraqi Media Network.
07:27
Alaa covering story
Today shes covering a story about Iraqi refugees who have returned home from years of exile in Iran looking for missing relatives.
07:37
Alaa: More and more pictures that Abu Muhamad is going through, looking for his brothers kids. We wonder, will he find them in these pages of pictures? Abu Muhammad, did you find who you are looking for?
Abu: Not yet.
07:47
Alaa going to briefing
Thompson: Alaa is one of the Iraq Media Networks most respected young journalists
08:01
She questions the independence of her American-backed employer.
Alaa
Alaa: I cant say occupation, American occupation or British occupation. While I saw that in the Their news said occupation -- American occupation British occupation but when I write that in my story No! you should say alliance forces I think this is a stupid idea.
08:13
Alaa editing story
Alaa: Shes crying, have you got that shot? Its a very powerful shot -- she looks at the camera and she goes like this, crying.
08:35
Thompson: As Alaa edits her story, her boss George Mansour is busy interviewing an Iraqi tribal leader in the studio next door.
08:49
Mansour interview with Tribal Leader
George: Lets go back to the coalition you are not happy with the performance of the coalition what are your reservations on this?
09:00
Tribal leader: Of course we are not happy. All the methods are oppressive
Thompson: A returning exile handpicked by the Coalition, George Mansour denies his network is guilty of censorship.
09:16
Mansour
Thompson: Alaa Jabouri says that she is not allowed to use the word occupation on your television station.
Mansour: Thats not true, I mean we are not using that word because we feel that this occupation bring to Iraqi people freedom.
09:24
Thompson: But editors are saying in the station do not use the word occupation?
Mansour: Believe me, we never do this censorship. And the person that I interviewed for half an hour he said many times occupation, and we have no problem with that.
09:47
Coalition Press centre
Thompson: The Iraqi Media Network shares a building with the Coalition Press centre.
10:12
Its here that journalists inquiries are fielded and positive news is spun.
10:20
Woman: I was able to get in contact with Lt. Colonel Carver
Jansons
Jansons: Were the frontline for the media and we try to make it as simple and easy for you as possible.
10:35
Sanchez at press conference
Sanchez: Sadly this week, we much also include amongst those who died a brave Iraqi policeman
10:40
Thompson: Daily news conferences are part of the service.
Alaa at press confernce
But after 35 years of repression, it isnt always easy for journalists who dont really understand how a free media works.
10:52
Alaa: This is my first question. Can I ask the second question?
11:00
Thompson: At her first Coalition press conference, Alaa Al-Jabouris list of questions lasts almost four minutes.
Alaa : Now the fourth question
Sanchez
Sanchez: Ok Im going to answer two.
Alaa Only two?
Sanchez: Im gonna answer two so we can give somebody else a chance.
11:17
Excerpts of TV Programs
Sikhi family watch TV
Thompson: It isnt always easy for consumers of the new free media either.
11:37
In the days of Saddam it was simple there was only one version of the truth. Some believed what they were told but most did not.
11:45
Now Iraqis face a bewildering array of choices. Working out whats worth watching is difficult enough. Choosing what to believe is harder still.
12:01
IRAQI MEDIA
Reporter: GEOFF THOMPSON
Camera: MICHAEL COX
Editor: SIMON BRYNJOLFFSSEN
Call to prayer/Radio broadcast
00:00
Thompson: On Baghdad's skyline, a once forbidden forest of satellite dishes is in full bloom.
Since the end of the war, these round windows to the outside world have been rolling into Iraq.
00:37
Sikhi with children
Sikhi: This is the youngest son
00:47
TV Program excerpts
Thompson: Thanks to his university job, Professor Abdul-a Hussain Sikhi's family can afford, unlike many, to buy a dish --
an act which would have sent him to jail under Saddam Hussein.
01:03
Sikhi with children
Sikhi: This affects the education and the knowledge of the whole family, so now we are sitting in this room more than we used to do in previous days.
Thompson: Youre becoming TV addicts?
Sikhi: Yeah, right.
Thompson: Just like the west?
01:13
Sikhi: Yeah, sometimes, you know, we spend the whole day sitting here, shifting channels just to see whats happening around us in the world.
01:39
News broadcast
Reporter: The killing of a number of American soldiers and others injured an Khaldiya
01:52
Propaganda song
TV Song: Oh love, we love the leader Saddam the President and father. Oh love, we love the leader
02:02
Thompson: Pre-war Iraqis were fed a strict TV diet of Saddam worship, variety shows and propaganda bulletins dressed up as news.
02:11
Bombed Information Ministry
Music
Thompson: The days of Iraq's free press ended the moment that Saddam Hussein's Ba'ath Party came to power in 1968. Over the next three decades Iraq's media was beaten into becoming little more than a mouthpiece helping to prop up Saddam Hussein's regime. And this was control central, Iraq's Information Ministry where local and visiting foreign journalists were cajoled and controlled right up until just hours before this building was blown apart by American missiles.
02:40
Bombed TV station
This television station was also destroyed.
03:14
Thompson with Al'aa at TV station
Thompson: So a bomb landed straight on the middle of your office Al'aa: Yes, seven missiles fallen on this building.
Thompson: Seven missiles?
Al'aa: Yeah.
Thompson: Al'aa Al-Juburi was working as a journalist at the Iraqi Satellite Channel in the days before it was struck.
03:26
This station was directly controlled by Saddam's son Uday.
03:40
Al'aa: This is my editing area.
Thompson: And what happened to all the equipment?
Al'aa: This is the equipment.
Thompson: And what's this on the floor?
Al'aa: This is poster.
Thompson: What's that poster about? What does it say?
03:54
Al'aa: Iraqi satellite channel, show our program, show our truth.
04:03
Thompson: And how much of what people saw on the Iraqi satellite channel was true?
Al'aa: True? I think not all things shown from Iraqi satellite channel was truth
Thompson: Most of it was lies?
Al'aa: Yes I think it was the policy of any channel to serve them, the government.
Newspaper sellers
Music
04:37
Thompson: Serving Saddam was the sole purpose of the handful of newspapers available under his regime.
A staggering 180 new papers have entered the market since the end of the war.
04:57
Some are party-political, others religious. Only a few are credible and widely popular
Newspaper seller
Newspaper seller: The most ... Al Sabah, Al Azzaman, Al Shahed those are the most in demand here, because they are honest and direct.
05:13
Other newspapers exaggerate they are not popular.
05:54
Nada in office
Thompson: Nada Shawket is supervising editor of one of Iraqs most credible papers, Al Azzaman.
05:39
Nada: It says things as they are.
05:47
Nada
Maybe another newspaper that is supported by certain parties like Al Sabah that is the coalition newspaper, or newspapers owned by political parties, might put out views with a partisan point of view.
05:50
Press for Stars and Stripes and Al Sabah
Thompson: Few Iraqis get to read the American military newspaper, Stars and Stripes.
06:06
Yet many read its stable mate. The American-backed Al Sabah is Iraqs biggest selling daily.
With Coalition funding, it sells for a third of the price of its competitors.
Khoury: There are complaints.
06:23
Khoury
People say youre supporting a particular media, why not all of us?
06:31
Thompson: An American of Lebanese descent, Nabeel Khoury is the Arabic spokesman for the US State Department.
06:40
Khoury: Ultimately what we hope will be built in Iraq is a free society
Khoury
Super: Nabeel Khoury
U.S. State Department
where the private sector plays a major role. Therefore what the CPA, the provisional authority is doing here is temporarily sponsoring an official media outlet.
06:52
Alaa with Woman
Alaa: Are you one of the refugees?
Woman: My two brothers were taken by Saddam Hussein, and executed. Alaa: Were you in Iran?
Woman: No, I was in Baghdad, but he forced all my family to leave for Iran -- my brothers came here and he killed them.
07:11
Alaa
Thompson: In post-Saddam Iraq Alaa Al-Jabouri now reports for the Coalition-backed television station, the Iraqi Media Network.
07:27
Alaa covering story
Today shes covering a story about Iraqi refugees who have returned home from years of exile in Iran looking for missing relatives.
07:37
Alaa: More and more pictures that Abu Muhamad is going through, looking for his brothers kids. We wonder, will he find them in these pages of pictures? Abu Muhammad, did you find who you are looking for?
Abu: Not yet.
07:47
Alaa going to briefing
Thompson: Alaa is one of the Iraq Media Networks most respected young journalists
08:01
She questions the independence of her American-backed employer.
Alaa
Alaa: I cant say occupation, American occupation or British occupation. While I saw that in the Their news said occupation -- American occupation British occupation but when I write that in my story No! you should say alliance forces I think this is a stupid idea.
08:13
Alaa editing story
Alaa: Shes crying, have you got that shot? Its a very powerful shot -- she looks at the camera and she goes like this, crying.
08:35
Thompson: As Alaa edits her story, her boss George Mansour is busy interviewing an Iraqi tribal leader in the studio next door.
08:49
Mansour interview with Tribal Leader
George: Lets go back to the coalition you are not happy with the performance of the coalition what are your reservations on this?
09:00
Tribal leader: Of course we are not happy. All the methods are oppressive
Thompson: A returning exile handpicked by the Coalition, George Mansour denies his network is guilty of censorship.
09:16
Mansour
Thompson: Alaa Jabouri says that she is not allowed to use the word occupation on your television station.
Mansour: Thats not true, I mean we are not using that word because we feel that this occupation bring to Iraqi people freedom.
09:24
Thompson: But editors are saying in the station do not use the word occupation?
Mansour: Believe me, we never do this censorship. And the person that I interviewed for half an hour he said many times occupation, and we have no problem with that.
09:47
Coalition Press centre
Thompson: The Iraqi Media Network shares a building with the Coalition Press centre.
10:12
Its here that journalists inquiries are fielded and positive news is spun.
10:20
Woman: I was able to get in contact with Lt. Colonel Carver
Jansons
Jansons: Were the frontline for the media and we try to make it as simple and easy for you as possible.
10:35
Sanchez at press conference
Sanchez: Sadly this week, we much also include amongst those who died a brave Iraqi policeman
10:40
Thompson: Daily news conferences are part of the service.
Alaa at press confernce
But after 35 years of repression, it isnt always easy for journalists who dont really understand how a free media works.
10:52
Alaa: This is my first question. Can I ask the second question?
11:00
Thompson: At her first Coalition press conference, Alaa Al-Jabouris list of questions lasts almost four minutes.
Alaa : Now the fourth question
Sanchez
Sanchez: Ok Im going to answer two.
Alaa Only two?
Sanchez: Im gonna answer two so we can give somebody else a chance.
11:17
Excerpts of TV Programs
Sikhi family watch TV
Thompson: It isnt always easy for consumers of the new free media either.
11:37
In the days of Saddam it was simple there was only one version of the truth. Some believed what they were told but most did not.
11:45
Now Iraqis face a bewildering array of choices. Working out whats worth watching is difficult enough. Choosing what to believe is harder still.
12:01
IRAQI MEDIA
Reporter: GEOFF THOMPSON
Camera: MICHAEL COX
Editor: SIMON BRYNJOLFFSSEN