Iraq's newspapers and media from Baghdad and Erbil

In Iraq, news is followed in Arabic, Kurdish and English: dailies such as Al Mada and Al Sabah, sites like Shafaq News, Baghdad Today and 964, the INA agency, and Alsumaria, Rudaw and Kurdistan24 television, most of them available online.

From the Ottoman press to the post-2003 era

Baghdad's first newspaper, Al Zawra, appeared in 1869 under the Ottoman Empire. Under the Baath party, the press was tightly controlled. After 2003, hundreds of titles emerged in Baghdad, Basra and Erbil, often tied to parties or communities.

Al Mada and Al Sabah: two Baghdad landmarks

Al Sabah, the daily of the public network, relays the government line. Al Mada, founded in 2003, presents itself as an independent cultural and political daily. Many other titles reflect Shia, Sunni or Kurdish party leanings, so it pays to diversify.

Arabic, Kurdish, Turkmen: which languages to read?

Arabic and Kurdish are Iraq's two official languages. Kurdish is read in Sorani and Badini, while some media also publish in Turkmen and Syriac. Shafaq News and Rudaw additionally offer English editions for international readers.

Iraqi Kurdistan, a media hub

Erbil and Sulaymaniyah host a dense media scene: Rudaw and Kurdistan24, based in Erbil, broadcast in Kurdish, Arabic and English, and NRT operates from Sulaymaniyah. In Basra or Mosul, local television stations follow the news of their province.

Shafaq News, 964 and Baghdad Today online

Digital-only outlets now play a central role: Shafaq News publishes in three languages, 964 focuses on field reporting and video, and Baghdad Today and Al Forat News run rolling briefs. Telegram and Facebook also serve as distribution channels.

INA, the Iraqi News Agency

The Iraqi News Agency, INA, publishes decisions of the Prime Minister, the Council of Ministers and Parliament in Arabic, English and Kurdish. It lets you check the official version of an announcement before reading other media's commentary.

Al Iraqiya and the Iraqi Media Network

The public Iraqi Media Network includes the Al Iraqiya channel, radio stations and the daily Al Sabah. Alongside it, Alsumaria and many party-linked private channels make up a highly competitive television landscape, widely available live online.

Iraqis abroad and their media

The Iraqi diaspora, large in Sweden, Germany and the United Kingdom, follows the news through national sites and the regional press. For the neighbouring context, also read Syrian newspapers and the Jordanian press, as Amman hosts many Iraqis.

Oil, the budget and Iraqi football

Oil revenues, the federal budget and relations between Baghdad and Erbil dominate economic news, covered by Shafaq News and Al Mada. Football is a national passion: the national team and clubs such as Al Zawraa and Al Shorta draw huge audiences.

Working as a journalist in Iraq

The Communications and Media Commission, CMC, issues licences and can suspend a channel. Journalists work in a sometimes difficult security environment, notably during the October 2019 protests, which shapes how certain sensitive subjects are covered.

Cross-checking sources on Iraq

Most Iraqi media are free. Compare a public outlet, an independent site and a Kurdish channel, then widen your view with the Iranian press and Arab media as a whole to see how neighbours cover the same event.

Reading Iraq in English

For readers who do not know Arabic, Iraqi News, the English editions of Shafaq News, Rudaw and Kurdistan24, and the English version of the INA provide daily coverage. The 964 site also publishes some of its reports in English.

Following Iraqi news step by step

1. Choose a Baghdad outlet such as Al Mada and a Kurdish one such as Rudaw to balance perspectives.
2. Verify every government or parliamentary decision on the INA before trusting commentary.
3. Subscribe to the Telegram channels of Shafaq News or 964 for breaking news.
4. Watch Al Iraqiya and Alsumaria live to compare public service and private television.
5. Identify the party or group that owns a channel before interpreting its political coverage.
6. Check the date and place of any video of violence, as such footage is often reposted long after the events.

Access to Iraqi media online

Practical facts about the Iraqi press

• Languages: Arabic and Kurdish (Sorani, Badini), plus Turkmen, Syriac and English
• News agency: INA, Iraqi News Agency
• Public broadcasting: Iraqi Media Network, with Al Iraqiya and the daily Al Sabah
• Regulator: CMC, Communications and Media Commission
• Time zone: UTC+3, no daylight saving
• Currency: Iraqi dinar (IQD)

Frequent traps when reading Iraqi news

• Ignoring the party affiliation of an Iraqi channel, when many media outlets belong to parties or political groups.
• Confusing the positions of the federal government in Baghdad with those of the Kurdistan Regional Government in Erbil.
• Sharing an old video of an attack as if it had just happened, a common occurrence on Telegram.
• Taking a fake account imitating Shafaq News or the INA for an official source, especially during security crises.
• Relying on machine translation of Sorani Kurdish, which is often inaccurate for proper names and places.

Your questions about Iraqi newspapers