Under the theme "Prospects and Guarantees of Journalistic Work in Iraq", Al-Nabaa Forum for Dialogue held a panel discussion featuring Moaid Al-Lami, President of the Federation of Arab Journalists and Head of the Iraqi Journalists Syndicate. The event was attended by members of the Syndicate’s Board, the administrative committee of its local governorate branch, and a gathering of academics, journalists, media practitioners, and interested figures in Karbala.
The symposium falls within Al-Nabaa Forum for Dialogue’s efforts to exchange perspectives and formulate effective solutions to contemporary problems, addressing the surrounding difficulties at the political, social, and cultural levels.
Forum Head, journalist Ali Al-Talqani, opened the symposium by welcoming the Head of the Iraqi Journalists Syndicate and the session's moderator, Dr. Wathiq Al-Hashimi, President of the Iraqi Group for Strategic Studies.
Al-Talqani stated that this event is part of the Forum’s monthly program, which brings together decision-makers from Iraqi authorities and academic and media elites to exchange views and discuss national issues. He emphasized the importance of the press and media in supporting the democratic and political processes and in conveying citizens' voices and suffering to decision-makers.
For his part, the symposium moderator, Al-Hashimi, noted that under Al-Lami’s leadership, the Iraqi Journalists Syndicate has secured numerous achievements for journalists locally and regionally since 2003, unprecedented since its founding.
In turn, opening his address, the Syndicate Head noted that the organization has exerted significant effort to shift the stereotyped image of Iraq abroad. He affirmed that this image has improved and that the tone of foreign media coverage toward Iraq has undergone a noticeable shift.
Regarding guarantees for journalistic work, Al-Lami stated: "We face potential incidents at any moment, but we have managed to secure journalists' rights within legal frameworks."
Addressing professionalism and neutrality in the media, the President of the Federation of Arab Journalists affirmed that "there is no absolutely neutral journalism, nor is there complete independence; rather, there is professionalism." He stressed that absolute independence is non-existent, and this is the nature of media institutions worldwide.
He added that the media is considered one of the most prominent products of democracy, and that those working within it bear the responsibility of standing at the forefront.
The symposium featured discussions and interventions from media professionals, journalists, and academics regarding the primary problems and obstacles facing professionals in the press and media sectors, as well as the Syndicate's role in addressing them and identifying their root causes.