Disinformation and the Strategy of Combating it in the Kurdistan Region - Iraq

Abstract

This study aims to explain the dimensions and reasons for the spread of the phenomenon of media shading and to define a comprehensive strategy to combat it by the parliament, the Kurdistan Regional Government of Iraq and the relevant unions and institutions. Where the study sample consisted of two important cases that became the subject of public opinion debate after their extensive coverage through the Kurdish media in 2021, namely: the issue of closing Hiwa Hospital for treating patients with cancer in Sulaymaniyah, and the case of the arrest and trial of a number of activists in Badinan region by local authorities on charges of espionage. The study was applied to two Kurdish news channels, namely )NRT( and )Rudaw(, and websites and social networking pages with the same names. Within the framework of the descriptive approach, a qualitative and quantitative survey was conducted for news, journalistic programs and arts that were added to cover the two cases in both channels. After a comprehensive presentation of the media situation and then analyzing the content of news )the study sample(, the researchers presented three mechanisms as a strategy to combat disinformation in the Kurdistan Region, namely: media mechanisms, legal mechanisms and administrative mechanisms. The researchers concluded that disinformation as a global phenomenon has affected the media environment in the region. The Kurdish channels were unable to protect themselves from this phenomenon. The concerned authorities did not take strategic measures to combat disinformation. This is despite the fact that the laws in force to regulate media work are not at the level of meeting the needs of this stage in combating the phenomenon of media disinformation. The study presents recommendations to the parliament, the government, and the combat solid media institutions in Iraqi Kurdistan in order to adopt a strategy to combat media disinformation, issue new laws to it, pay attention to media education and establish centers to verify the authenticity of news and information.