A doctoral dissertation titled “Sports Coverage in News Agencies and Iraqi Sports Journalists’ Reliance on Them as a Source of Information” was discussed at the College of Mass Communication, University of Baghdad.
The examination committee was chaired by Prof. Dr. Ammar Taher Mohammed, with Assist. Prof. Dr. Nada Aboud Jarallah serving as the supervisor. Committee members included Assist. Prof. Dr. Basim Waheed Jouni, Assist. Prof. Dr. Ruwaa Hadi Saleh, Assist. Prof. Dr. Safad Hossam Hammoudi, and Prof. Dr. Taha Abdel Ati Mostafa as the external examiner.
The study aimed to examine the nature of sports-related content published by news agencies and assess the extent to which Iraqi sports journalists rely on these agencies as a primary source of information and sports news.
The findings showed that news agencies have become a central source in the production of sports news for Iraqi sports journalists. At the same time, the study highlighted the professional challenge of moving beyond rapid news transmission toward more in-depth editorial analysis and reducing reliance on a single source by building a broader and more independent network of information sources.
The study recommended diversifying sources of sports information rather than relying solely on news agencies, particularly when covering sensitive issues such as player injuries, transfers, administrative decisions, and sports-related violence. It also emphasized using news agencies as a starting point for verification and background research rather than as a substitute for field reporting and exclusive sources. In addition, the study called for enhanced training in multimedia journalism for sports journalists.
The outcomes of the study are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 4 (Quality Education) and Goal 16 (Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions).
