Redefining Press Freedom: A Survey of Iraqi Broadcasters in Political Transition and Conflict

This study examined how Iraqi broadcasters perceive the concept of press freedom in their newly emerging media environment. Based on the survey of 122 Iraqi broadcasters, this study found that individual, attitudinal, and organizational factors determine Iraqi broadcasters' perceptions of press freedom. Departing from the conventional press freedom indices on Iraq compiled by Western freedom advocate organizations, this study suggests that the Iraqi broadcasters' perceptions on the press freedom were relative, not absolute or uniform as depicted through numerical indices or qualitative labels.