The Press Coverage of Water Issues in Iraqi Newspapers: Al-Sabah and Al-Zaman as Case Studies

Abstract

This research primarily aims to analyze the news coverage of the water  crisis in Iraq as presented by two major Iraqi newspapers, Al-Sabah and Al-Zaman, during the year 2024. The study seeks to determine the trends of journalistic treatment and the level of attention dedicated by the Iraqi press to sensitive environmental issues that currently represent pivotal existential challenges. These issues severely threaten the nation's water, food, and social security, especially given the escalating effects of climate change and the shortage of water revenues originating from neighboring regional countries due to dams and external water policies

The research adopted the descriptive analytical method, considered the most appropriate for studying media phenomena, utilizing both quantitative and qualitative content analysis as a core tool for evaluating the published content. This methodology was applied to a sample size of (178) journalistic items, diverse in form including news reports, articles, features, and investigative pieces, all focused on the water crisis and published in the two selected newspapers during the specified period.

The findings demonstrated that the news story format dominated the coverage with a high percentage (57.3%). This indicates a clear prevalence of a quick, superficial informational style and a lack of the necessary analytical depth required to expose the true roots of the crisis and its scientific, economic, and long-term political dimensions. The analysis also revealed a clear divergence in editorial direction between the two newspapers: Al-Sabah tended towards a positive, official stance supportive of government efforts in crisis management, while Al-Zaman was more critical and independent in proposing solutions and assigning responsibility. Regarding information sources, both newspapers relied heavily on official sources (47.8%), showing a noticeable weakness in source diversity and the use of environmental experts or specialized civil society organizations. Furthermore, most materials were published on internal pages (66.9%), reflecting a lack of prioritization of the water crisis as a front-page issue.

The study concluded that the journalistic coverage of the water crisis is characterized by superficiality, seasonality, and a lack of environmental specialization within editorial cadres. The research recommended the necessity of establishing specialized environmental editorial units in Iraqi newspapers and training journalists on the fundamentals of scientific reporting and environmental analysis to effectively enhance national water awareness and support sustainable development