The Department of Radio and Television at the College of Media, has organized the 14th Radio and Television Business Festival under the slogan “We produce works to reflect a beautiful picture of the homeland”, under the auspices of Asiacell Telecom Company and the National Communications and Media Commission of Iraq. It is noteworthy that dozens of works in various radio and television arts have participated in the festival, all of which were examined by a specialized jury of experienced academics and professionals. The festival was attended by the dean of the college of media, Prof. Dr. Ammar Taher, the assistant rector for administrative affairs Sarmad Fouad, head of the Executive Branch of the National Communications and Media Commission of Iraq Mohammed al-Assadi, dean of the college of education for women Prof. Dr. Ishaq Saleh al-Akam, and a large number of media professionals and researchers, as well as undergraduate students of various grades.
The dean of the college, Dr. Ammar Taher stated in his speech that “we look forward for the graduation of a new batch of students who would be the nucleus of work in radio stations and satellite channels and we encourage them to add and create their own academic touch to the professional work and be tools for a free, honest and committed media. The reality of visual and audio media never rises to the history of radio and television in Iraq, as most satellite channels are similar in content, but the audience may feel that programmes are reproduced, carrying the same content, without taking into account the diversity of works or commitment to professional standards in news coverage, but we find that news do not rely on sober public sources, or they might be just a rumor disseminated via mass media, regardless of their misinformation or free accusations” He added that “These satellite programs have devoted the culture of squabbling and the exchange of charges to the public out of curiosity for being a free tool used to reflect what is happening in the Iraqi arena, so the audience began to refrain from watching TV after being tired of absurd conflicts, political attach of others or poisoning ideas”.
The dean however stated that there are very few targeted programs respect the mentality of the viewer and manage the dialogue professionally unlike other programs that have overthrown the theory of social responsibility, and stripped the small screen of its family charm, also some television content is free of family and moral values, all this happens under the slogan of free media, open space and the sanctity of fake media, which should not be touched, no matter how much they destroy society by slander, defamation or abuse that are regarded permissible as an acquired right of the so-called media. Concerning the programmes dedicated for children, Dr. Ammar Taher said that the cultural, educational and development programs, or those aimed at young people and the elderly, including entertainment programs that raise the cognitive level of viewers, all became something from the past and part of the history of television, for satellite channels have no capacity to produce, buy and offer exclusive broadcast rights, adding that the future of the Iraqi media will depend on what the young people will present, who are armed with knowledge and knowledge and have acquired some skills to enter the labor market, despite the lack of experience.
The assistant rector of the University of Baghdad, Dr. Sarmad Fouad, , expressed his happiness with this large and organized festival, praising the works produced and performed by the students of the department of radio and television, which were characterized by diversity and professionalism and expressed his hope that the local market, including official and informal institutions, will benefit from these emerging talents in order to improve the national media. On the other hand, the head of the department Prof. Dr. Raad al-Kaabi explained that “the festival of radio works in its 14th edition distinguishes unique outputs in various arts under the supervision of about 20 specialized professors, pointing out that the jury relied on the principle of neutrality, objectivity and professionalism in the arbitration process to sort out the top produced works across a number of categories, and thanking Dr. Haidar al-Kutbi, the field executor of this event, for his great efforts to show this annual festival an ideal and professional way in accordance with the legacy of the Radio and Television Department at the University of Baghdad.
