A PhD dissertation was discussed at the College of Mass Communication titled “Topics of Political Disagreement in Television Talk Shows and Their Impact on Audience Attitudes Toward National Issues,” submitted by researcher Bara Abdul-Muttalib Ali from the Department of Radio and Television.
The examination committee was chaired by Professor Dr. Ali Abbas, with Professor Dr. Adel Abdul-Razzaq as supervisor, and members including Professor Dr. Bushra Dawood Al-Sinjari, Professor Dr. Laith Badr, Assistant Professor Dr. Hussein Jassim, and external member Professor Dr. Mona Mohammed Saeed.
The study aimed to identify the main themes of political disagreement in Iraqi television talk shows and examine their impact on audience attitudes toward national issues, in light of the growing role these programs play in shaping political awareness and public debate.
The researcher adopted the descriptive-analytical approach to analyze the content of selected television talk shows, namely “From Baghdad” on Al-Taghyeer TV and “Al-Midan with Miqdad Al-Hamidani” on Al-Oula TV, using a comprehensive census of all episodes during the study period and employing content analysis as the research tool.
The study found variations in media approaches, ranging from structural analytical coverage to more event-driven reporting. It also showed that economic disputes—particularly the budget and oil resources—are often presented as extensions of political conflict rather than independent developmental issues.
In addition, the findings indicated that these programs have a clear influence on shaping public political knowledge, directing audience attitudes, and prioritizing national issues.
