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The media pundit's pundit. Written by NYC insider Jeff Jarvis, BuzzMachine covers news, media, journalism, and politics.

The state of Iraqi media

1 comment on The state of Iraqi media

The state of Iraqi media
: Radio Free Europe’s site assesses the state of Iraqi media:

Like virtually all other aspects of the Iraqi state and society, the media were completely incorporated into Hussein’s totalitarian structure, a reality that was symbolically represented by the fact that Hussein gave his eldest son, Uday Hussein, responsibility for it….

Internet access in Iraq, which was only launched in 1997, was severely restricted by the Hussein regime. In 2001, the U.S. government estimated that there were just 12,500 Internet users in Iraq, which has a population of more than 26 million.

This same piece gives other valuable background on, for examle, the Ba’ath Party, the Shi’a movement, and Arab press reaction. [via Die Zeit]

1 response to “The state of Iraqi media”

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    Jeff, this is the first I’ve read that the Iraqi internet went through Syria. I’ve read some crazy stories about it before– one story from I-forget-where claimed it was threaded through some ATM machines in a Paris suburb– huh?? (Was someone planning on stealing money from the ATM machines in Paris?) Brian McWilliams has been very agressive about tracking down the Iraqi internet and Salam Pax but he did not mention the Syrian path. And I’m not so sure that what is presented in this article (from Radio Free Europe) is entirely accurate either.
    Also, I suspect it’s going to be quite a while before they get their phone system restored and, with it, a less expensive modem connection.