A PhD dissertation entitled “Framing of Iraqi Security and Military Issues by International and Regional News Agencies and Its Impact on Communicators: A Survey Study” was discussed at the College of Mass Communication, University of Baghdad, by researcher Asaad Khalil Ibrahim.
The examination committee was chaired by Professor Laith Badr Yousif, with Assistant Professor Nooh Ezz Al-Din serving as the supervisor. Committee members included Assistant Professor Falah Hassan Ali, Professor Jaafar Shaheed Hashim, Assistant Professor Rana Ali Khalaf, and Professor Inas Abu Yousif as the external examiner.
The dissertation aimed to examine how international and regional news agencies framed Iraqi military and security issues and how this coverage influenced communicators. The study analyzed the topics and journalistic frames adopted by selected news agencies representing different editorial orientations to identify the content and patterns of their media coverage.
The findings revealed that Iraqi military and security affairs continue to occupy a central geopolitical position in the news agendas of the international and regional agencies examined. The study also found a clear emphasis on battlefield developments and traditional security concepts, alongside a notable lack of coverage of non-traditional security issues, such as cybersecurity.
The dissertation recommended that editorial departments issue clear guidelines encouraging journalists to move beyond the verbatim reproduction of news agency reports by incorporating broader context, historical background, and political dimensions of security-related events. Such measures would help address the problem of superficial interpretation and reduce the cognitive and framing dominance of international news agencies.
The study’s outcomes are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 4: Quality Education and Goal 16: Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions.
