Iraq's new voice
The risky business of the Florida-based company rebuilding Iraq's media
By SUSAN TAYLOR MARTIN
Published February 20, 2005
Last April, the St. Petersburg Times reported on Florida-based Harris Corp.'s $96-million contract to turn Saddam Hussein's old media network - TV, radio and a national newspaper - into an independent voice for the Iraqi people. Despite violence that has killed 13 of the 2,300 employees of the Iraqi Media Network, Harris has built or refurbished studios in Baghdad, Kirkuk and other cities; created Good Morning Iraq and other original programming; and broadcasts via satellite throughout the Middle East. Iraq's interim government recently awarded Harris a $21-million, three-month contract to complete its work. In this e-mail interview with Times Senior Correspondent Susan Taylor Martin, program manager David Sedgley discusses what it's like to live and work in Iraq these days.
What differences do you see in Iraq since the Jan. 30 elections?
The Iraqis I work with on a daily basis seem very proud and happy - maybe even excited - that the elections took place and of the whole process. The country seems the same - some safe areas and some very dangerous areas but overall a little quieter. We still have very limited movement ability at this time due to the continuing security issues.
What role did Al-Iraqiya, the TV network, play in the election campaign?
Al-Iraqiya broadcast voter information and gave free air time to all candidates equally. All 111 political entities were given the opportunity to tape a two-minute message to the public. About 65 entities accepted. Some did not want to risk having their faces shown on TV.
For their security, we arranged special times for the candidates to come to us or for us to go to them. If they came to the studio, they and their entourages were subject to the same security as all visitors. We did have special badges and communications set up to be sure they had rapid access into the studios.
How do you counter the perception that Al-Iraqiya is a mouthpiece for the U.S. government - especially during the time the U.S.-led Coalition Provisional Authority was running the country?
First, Harris Corp. has never received a dime from the U.S. government - the Iraqi Media Network, including Al-Iraqiya, is totally funded by the Iraqi government with Iraqi funds.
Second, one of Harris' objectives was to develop a "fair and balanced" public service broadcaster to serve the Iraqi people. I personally set up a team to evaluate the content of all broadcasts from Baghdad. We rejected many public service announcements that did not serve the Iraqi public, and we reduced the amount of pro-American subjects that were being aired. We did cover the CPA's press conferences, which were, on many occasions, very pro-CPA.
The CPA left Iraq on June 28, and Al-Iraqiya has never since that time been pressured to air any U.S. or British or multinational forces' content. There has been some interest in the network from various political parties in Iraq, but it has been able to maintain its independence. I hope this will continue after we are gone, because that, of course, is the heart and future of any public broadcasting service.
What are some of the other changes to Al-Iraqiya?
We created a 24-hour news desk, added daily sports, business and weather coverage and increased original Al-Iraqiya programming to about 40 percent, with another 40 percent coming from local Iraqi sources. We've also improved the on-air graphics. As for the newspaper, we installed a new press capable of printing 350,000 copies a day.
Are the reporters able to move about freely? Do the anchors worry about being too visible?
The reporters move around much easier than foreign reporters, because all of them are Iraqi, but they still must be very careful - reporters are not safe in Iraq at this time.
We have had a very difficult time finding good and talented anchors due to on-screen exposure. This will continue to be a serious problem due to the criminal and terrorist presence in Iraq and is compounded by the false association of the Iraqi Media Network with the U.S. government.
How much have security concerns affected Harris Corp.'s ability to work in Iraq?
Security issues escalated from the moment we arrived in Iraq, and probably impacted our performance by two months. Even though we will have completed all our objectives by April 7, I was not able to go shopping in Baghdad, visit Babylon, fish in Mosul and cross the desert by car. Of course, I didn't come here to do that, although I would still like to do those things before I leave.
You live in the the Green Zone, the heavily fortified area of Baghdad that is home to the U.S. Embassy and many contractors. What is it like? What do you do for entertainment?
Baghdad is eight hours ahead of Melbourne, so when it gets dark here at 6 p.m., it's 10 a.m. in Florida and the Harris folk are just getting wound up - most of my evening entertainment is working issues and answers back home.
We have a good team who not only work well together, but we also have a lot of fun - add a little Jack Daniels (duty-free at Baghdad International Airport) and you can actually relax and kind of forget we're like prisoners in our little environment. When you first get here, you think the (concrete) Texas Barriers are constructed to keep the terrorists out, but after a year you begin to realize the Texas Barriers really are keeping you in. Fortunately, I enjoy working and reading a good book. There is no end to the roadblocks to getting your job done, so knocking down roadblocks is always fun, and then add to that the security issues - to be honest with you, I haven't had a boring day yet.
What has been your most frightening experience?
Waking up at 5 a.m. to a rocket explosion near my trailer and then hearing a second one explode closer to my trailer and then a third that sounded right next door and then waiting for the fourth to come in. Fortunately, it never did. Trailers have no overhead protection against rocket attacks - very scary.
What was your saddest experience?
Attending three funerals in one day for three Iraqi employees in Baquba and consoling the families. Looking their parents in the eyes and hoping I was not responsible for their tragedy and very personal losses.
What's the single most rewarding thing that's happened?
Helping get a military airlift for one of our young Iraqi reporters when U.S. military doctors said that if he was not moved to a hospital in Beirut or Amman that had the proper equipment, he would die of his gunshot wounds the next day. He is back on the job today. That was the most rewarding experience.
What do you think Iraq will be like five years from now?
Given the desire of the majority of Iraqis I know who really do want democracy and the right to choose, I see a country with a much improved infrastructure and a large population of young people who have been given a second chance and who now realize the responsibilities that go with that freedom. The difference is that the Iraqis will be willing to take up the challenge and do the hard work to keep their individual freedoms.
Knowing what you know now, would Harris Corp. have gone to Iraq?
During the bidding process in November 2003 and at the start of this program, it appeared the security situation was improving. If we knew it was going to deteriorate to today's situation, I would have recommended to my management not to bid this program. On the other hand, I will never regret coming to Iraq and being a part of this. It's the achievement of my life - to date!
Susan Taylor Martin can be contacted at susan@sptimes
To read the original article go to: http://www.sptimes.com/2004/04/19/Worldandnation/Rebuilding_media__dod.shtml