Support for Independent Media in Iraq (SIMI)

Supporting Professionalism of the Media

• Enhanced training on journalism standards to selected media outlets on basic professional journalistic practices, as well as in investigative reporting, crafting human interest stories, and specialized-issue reporting such as women's issues, sports, business, and reporting about local government affairs. Special attention was paid to issues of journalistic ethics.

• Helped develop the Iraqi Media Institute (IMI) to provide the media market with training for journalists, editors, technicians, sales and marketing managers, and station managers to help create an environment that facilitates the financial sustainability of independent media outlets.

• Developed a professional press center in the Media Department of the Council of Representatives (CoR) which allowed Iraqi journalists to follow breaking news, conduct interviews, and file their reports directly from the Parliament.

• Provided operational, training, and consulting support to improve the National Iraqi News Agency (NINA).

• Provided new media training, resulting in a growth of new media content in the form of blogs, forums, and internet portals.

• Developed Iraqi trainers through a Training of Trainers (TOT) program in investigative reporting, election coverage, and new media resulting in over 270 trained trainers across Iraq.

• Developed the first media internship program for 50 Iraqi journalism students, providing much needed practical training to supplement the theory-based curriculum prevalent at universities.

Business Development Programs

• Provided practical and systematic training to media managers of 95 partner media outlets in business skills, including management of financial, personnel, and production operations of media enterprises. Special attention was given to training for media managers from prospective independent media firms in how to write strategic business plans and seek bank loans and/or investment from outside sources.

• Founded a media training institute (IMI) in Baghdad that provided all media organizations in Iraq with the urgently needed trainings.

• Provided reliable data and information in the field of media marketing, status of media organizations, and the viewing, reading and listening habits of Iraqis.

• Trained staff from media partners in design, production, sales and marketing, promotion campaigns, and other skills to increase revenue.

• Developed training courses media management media management focused on teaching journalists the basics of business planning, media management, budgeting, strategic planning, and new product planning.

• Managed a focused, small, competitive grant program for partner media outlets to enable those outlets that have otherwise effectively managed their businesses and demonstrated their financial viability to secure funding via a specific grant.

Legal, Regulatory and Policy Environment

• Facilitated the ongoing development of a more professional legal, regulatory, and policy environment.

• Conducted training seminars for professional media associations and media defense groups on how to more effectively advocate on behalf of freedom of the press will improve the legal and regulatory environment. This includes training on identification of other partners in civil society, government, business and political parties, managing coalitions, disseminating messages, developing action plans and public relations strategies; protection of journalists rights.

• Provided grant assistance to selected groups to implement advocacy action plans and to development of a cadre of legal experts proficient in media law and its application.

• Provided consulting to and monitored IMN content which resulted in improvements in balance and coverage of political issues.

• Supported implementation of an improved press law in KRG and developed advocacy group to push for needed reforms.

Association Building, Media Sector Advocacy Organizations

• Supported the development of an umbrella advocacy group, Temkin, which brought together IREX grantees such as JFO (http://www.jfoiraq.org) and IJRDA (http://www.ijrda.org), as well as other leading media groups and professionals.

• Improved the capacities of media associations to advocate for an enabling environment for the development of independent media, to protect the interests of journalists and the ability of journalists to report on critical social/political issues, and facilitated progress towards progressively higher standards of professionalism in news and public affairs reporting.

• Strengthened of the capacity of domestic professional organizations to monitor and publicize violations of press freedom contributing to the protection of press freedom.

• Strengthened the capacity of domestic professional organizations to monitor and publicize violations of press freedom or actions taken to protect press freedom. • Developed journalist protection programs that monitor threats and violence against individual journalists and media outlets.

• Supported fledgling media associations to promote ethical standards and highlight violations against journalists.