Baghdad:Awsam Majid Ghanim, a member of the Board of Trustees of the Iraqi Media Network (IMN), emphasized the importance of media pluralism as a key indicator of democracy. He noted that public media institutions in Iraq face financial, administrative, and technological challenges that hinder their ability to serve society effectively.
According to the Iraqi News Agency, a lecture titled “Public Media: The Philosophy of Service and Implementation Challenges” was held at the College of Media, University of Baghdad. The seminar, attended by master’s and doctoral students, was delivered by Dr. Awsam Majid Ghanim and covered topics including the concept of “publicness,” media institution models, challenges in public media service, and strategies for improving the effectiveness of these services.
The discussions addressed the differences between public, government, and private media, focusing on their funding sources and accountability structures. The seminar also explored the impacts of political, financial, and bureaucratic pressures, particularly in the context of technological advancements and changing audience habits.
Dr. Ghanim highlighted the Iraqi Media Network as a unique model of public media service within Iraq. He noted a significant gap between the principles of public service media and the actual operational conditions of these institutions. Funding instability was identified as a primary challenge affecting content quality and technological progression.
He explained that public media institutions often face restrictions in generating revenue through advertising, leading to a balancing act between financial sustainability and maintaining core priorities free from commercial influence. The rigidity of administrative procedures further complicates decision-making and development, contrasting with the flexibility seen in private institutions.
Ghanim addressed the issue of “ossified public service,” where public service media lose vitality and societal connection. He stressed the need for revitalizing performance, engaging audiences, and securing stable funding to overcome this challenge.
The expansion of digital platforms has allowed political entities to bypass traditional media, impacting the role of public media institutions. Financial constraints have forced some organizations to reduce services, potentially affecting the quality of their output. Ghanim warned that weakening public media services could narrow the space for media focused on societal needs and increase susceptibility to profit-driven or ideological influences.